A rebound in confidence after Hartford victory

Following disappointing losses to in-state rivals Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac last week, the Yale women's basketball team found itself in a difficult, unexpected situation. The Bulldogs had high hopes entering the season, as a large and balanced slate of freshmen joined an extremely talented group of returning players from last year's team, which finished fourth in the Ivy League. An impressive debut against Boston University further fueled the team's confidence and incited discussion of a possible Ivy League Championship. However, plagued by poor shooting and lackadaisical defense, the Bulldogs dropped five consecutive contests and watched as their once-promising season slowly unraveled. Helene Schutrumpf, BK '03, explained, "When the other team made a run and took a lead on us, we lost our composure and couldn't produce an offensive response. As soon as we were placed in an uncomfortable situation, things seemed to fall apart."

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Caitlin Blair, TD Õ02, hopes to help spark wins at Harvard and Dartmouth this weekend.

Despite its recent struggles, the team may have rediscovered its winning formula. The Bulldogs overcame a hostile road environment and several double-digit deficits in defeating Hartford 57-53 on Wed., Dec. 6. Employing a stingy zone defense that limited the effectiveness of Hartford's star center Kenitra Johnson, the Elis were able to slow the tempo and take the Hawks out of their game. The team also capitalized on numerous Hartford fouls down the stretch, draining an awesome 18 of 21 free throws in the second half to secure the victory. Head Coach Amy Backus said, "The biggest key was sticking with the game plan. We did an excellent job slowing down a Hartford team that likes to run. We trailed in both halves, but we kept our composure and held on, and the win is definitely a boost to our confidence."

Even with the win, the 2-5 Bulldogs face an uphill battle in their quest for a winning season. The early season losses revealed several glaring weaknesses in the team's arsenal. The Bulldogs have had difficulty maintaining possession of the ball, giving up more turnovers than they have forced in each of their seven outings this season. Further, Backus has yet to discover a lineup that works as a cohesive unit. Only one player, Captain Alyson Miller, JE '01, has started all seven games this season, and Backus continues to seek a combination that exerts the maximum effort on the floor. However, both coaches and players point to the lack of defensive intensity as the team's chief downfall. Recent practices have been devoted almost entirely to improving defensive movement and communication, and the last few games have attested to the Bulldogs' hard work. Added Backus, "Last week we used a lineup that I felt was giving the most effort on the defensive end of the floor. I think the other players finally got the message, and I have seen a marked improvement in our defensive tenacity."

As for the forecast for the rest of the season, the Bulldogs are hoping to take advantage of thier deep bench, from which they have been calling on as many as 10 or 11 players in most games. Since the college basketball season is long and arduous, as the season drags on Yale will be able to take advantage of its breadth of talent by continually bringing fresh and aggressive players off the bench. Further, the Bulldogs pride themselves on a well-balanced scoring attack. Six different players have led the team in scoring in its seven games this season, and though sophomore guard Maria Smear, SM '03, leads all Yale scorers by a significant margin, little distance exists between the scoring averages of most other members of the team. Schutrumpf emphasized, "We have a great balance of scoring both on the perimeter and in the paint. Our guards can drill three-pointers and open up the middle for our inside scorers, and our big players can draw double teams and free up our shooters for open looks."

One of the biggest advantages of playing a difficult non-conference schedule is that it allows a team to view its relative strengths and weaknesses in an atmosphere that is not absolutely urgent. While these early season games help establish a team's confidence level, it is the conference season that is crucial in determining the success that a team attains. As the Bulldogs look ahead to the Ivy League season that opens Jan. 12 against Harvard, they feel that they are peaking at just the right time. Freshman Brynn Gingras, TC '04, reiterated, "After the Hartford win, we've finally proven to ourselves that we can win against good competition. As we continue to improve and gain confidence in each other, we should be competitive for the league championship."

Though the victory over Hartford is only one step in the road to success, the Bulldogs gained a great deal of experience from their hard-fought win. As Smear attests, more than any other facets, the win improved the team's dynamic. "We're really hoping to build on our success from the Hartford game. We finally put faith in one another, and the results were remarkable. We [now] understand the importance of playing hard down the stretch and we realize that success comes with relying on our teammates."

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