The Oberlin women’s basketball team approaches its first game of the season this weekend with a seven-woman squad. Sound kind of small? That’s because it is. Only five players return from the program’s 2003-2004 team, only two of whom were starters.

Last year’s team also graduated its two starting captains and lost the fifth starter to another sport. “The current roster was not expected,” said third-year coach Christa Champion. Champion had hoped for a larger incoming class; 10 first-years had made commitments to play women’s basketball for Oberlin on May 1. Unfortunately, due to “injuries and changes of heart,” the once massive recruiting class has dwindled down to two lone survivors.

However, the super-human seven have converged to form a close-knit, unbreakable unit. The team expects to build on last year’s “Laying the Foundation” campaign with what Champion describes as an “incredibly talented core of players.”

Based on their dedication to the program and the sport, senior co-captains Nicole Burford and Cristina Briboneria are poised to have the best years of their careers. “These girls are all-conference-caliber players,” said Champion. “Briboneria is not really a point guard but has taken over [that position]. Burford contributes from everywhere.”

In college basketball, the biggest jump in individual performance is said to come between the first and second year of competition. Second-year players will fill the remaining three starting positions on the Yeowomen’s squad.

Champion described sophomore Jesse Oram, the team’s center, as a “creative and instinctive scorer in the paint.” Sophomore Quintetta Stubblefield will also make an impact as a guard with excellent shooting ability and smart play. Meg Reitz is a junior, but only entering her second season of eligibility after taking her first year at Oberlin off. A three sport athlete (she also plays field hockey and lacrosse), Reitz is an “excellent rebounder who has a knack for getting the ball.” Champion expects big things from all of the second-year players.

The squad is rounded out by two first-years who are expected to be key contributors this year. Laura Kanter from Seattle, Wash. is a scrappy guard who has stepped into the team’s “sparkplug” role, while Valerie Cain is a post player who is commended by Champion for being “big and strong with a nice shooting touch.” The first-years will donate their raw potential to a squad that finished last season with seven wins and 19 losses.

This year’s team also features a “B-team” that practices with varsity and will dress one to two players for every game in case of foul trouble. There are also men who practice with the squad, but because of the separation between genders in collegiate varsity athletics, they will not be dressing.

The North Coast Athletic Conference is very competitive in women’s basketball. The Oberlin program has struggled with recruiting because it draws nationally, as opposed to conference powerhouses Wittenberg and Denison, which draw their recruits locally. “Ohio has some of the most talented high school girls’ basketball in the country,” said Champion.

Despite the challenges ahead, the coaching staff hopes to win more games this year and finish higher than eighth place in the conference. The team’s plan of attack is to play slow and in control because of its depth deficit. “Less run and gun,” Champion paraphrased.

Reitz is optimistic about this strategy. “Christa knows what she’s doing,” she said, describing her coach as “ridiculously positive.” Even so, it is unsure how the team’s continued rebuilding mentality will hold up without substantial depth on the bench. “It’ll be an interesting season,” Reitz concluded. And for all underdog-appreciating women’s basketball fans unsure of whether to brave the bleachers this season, this is incentive aplenty.