The Oberlin College women’s basketball team expects to make some noise this season, despite a roster of only nine players, the loss of all-time leading scorer, Nzinga Broussard, and a new head coach.
The team is now under the direction of Christa Champion as long-time head coach Ann Gilbert is on a year’s leave, serving as an assistant women’s basketball coach for Division I Michigan State University.
“I think the team is responding pretty well overall. People started out on equal footing at the beginning of the season because everything was new for everyone,” sophomore guard Julia Daher said.
A lack of personnel is the most obvious challenge for the team this year, especially at the forward/center position. Only three players have experience in the post which might require some Yeowomen to play out-of-position during games. Still, Champion remains optimistic about the team’s capability.
“Nine people is enough to win basketball games and we have the talent we need,” she said.
The Yeowomen have eight returning letter winners and one newcomer, Daher. Oberlin’s experience and quickness at the guard position should equate to a fast-paced open court offense.
“I think our strengths this season will be our quickness and speed. We are faster than most teams in this conference,” sophomore guard Cristina Briboneria said.
Over the past few years, the Yeowomen have been known in the North Coast Athletic Conference for their speed and athleticism, but also for a lack of consistency, something coach Champion says will be an area of improvement this year.
“We do have bad habits, but we’ve already been breaking them,” she said. “We want to channel our defensive energy to coordinate the defense and make other teams take low-percentage shots and low-percentage passes.” Champion also stated that the team will execute the fast break whenever possible, but will not hesitate to pull the ball out and run the half-court offense.
In addition to low numbers, the team will also have to contend with the loss of four-time all-NCAC and all-time leading Oberlin scorer Broussard. Broussard led the team in steals, rebounds, assists, free throws made, points per game and minutes played last season. With Broussard gone, any player can be expected to have a big night as the offense will focus on getting the ball in the hands of the open player.
“With ‘Z’ gone it is a whole new team on the floor,” sophomore guard Karen Hahn said. “The way we now operate is different. It can be anyone’s night on this team and that is what is so exciting.”
Junior guard Amber Coleman shared Hahn’s sentiment. “We are more of a community that does not depend on one player all the time like last year,” she said. “That’s what will make us good — depending on our teamwork to pull us through.”
Champion said that three players — Hahn, senior Sonja Spencer and sophomore Nicole Burford — are expected to see time at the point position this season. Hahn served as Broussard’s back up last year and will most likely see the most time at the point position. Burford and Spencer are also capable of running the team’s offense, but will probably see more time in the shooting guard position. Coleman, Daher and Briboneria will round out the guard positions. Senior Malisha Richardson, who was second on the team in scoring and rebounds last season, and junior Laura Wallerstein will fill the forward position. Junior Tranice Harrell is the lone player listed at the center position.
This weekend’s Greater Cleveland Classic will be a test for the Yeowomen as two of the most competitive Division III programs, Baldwin-Wallace and Case Western Reserve, will be in attendance. Baldwin-Wallace is consistently ranked in the Division III NCAA poll and Case Western Reserve boasts several division one transfers this season. A strong showing at this weekend’s contest would prove wrong those who picked Oberlin to finish eighth in the NCAC this year.
“Those teams are underestimating us. If we continue to execute our game plan as we have done in the first month we will take people by surprise,” Champion said.
Last year the Yeowomen finished with a record of 10-14 overall and 5-11 in the NCAC. Champion said she expects to surpass last year’s mark: “Our goal is to go .500 in the conference, which is a realistic goal — not a stretch.”