13 keys to team's strength
Women's Basketball
Ashley Islas Sports Editor
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Sports
The Lady Mocs are heading into Sunshine State Conference play with only one blemish on their record so far this season.
Both starters and those on the bench have contributed to the team's success so far this season.
All 13 Lady Mocs on the team have had the opportunity to play and tack on to the team's 488 points so far this season.
The usual trio of junior captain Chelsea Johnson, sophomore Michaela Hawley and sophomore Megan Dzikas has been consistent for the team this year and combine for 294 points and has started all games so far this season.
In the Mocs first three-straight wins of the season, Johnson averaged 25.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals for that week and earned the honor of being SSC Player of the Week.
Johnson has also already established a new career game high of 38 points in a game.
Hawley's pressure on both ends of the court has also been key to the team's success. She has been consistent and often times provides the team with the adequate points to tie a game or secure a victory with a few minutes left on the clock.
Dzikas' offensive power has posed a serious threat for opponets.
In the Mocs' latest game, Johnson had to sit out after nine minutes due to a slight left hamstring pull.
Hawley was able to step up and led the team with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior Tanja Speaker has been the only other player to start all games and has given the team 25 rebounds and 10 steals this season.
Other players who have started taking the court in an impressive fashion are the younger freshmen. Emily Grayson has helped the team to victory with three-pointers and Alexis Hochstetler added 10 points to the team's victory over Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras.
With only two seniors on the team, inexperience may seem as though it should be an opponent to the Lady Mocs, but the team views this as only a positive factor to their winning season.
"This [youth] helps in a major way," Johnson said. "The younger players have upbeat and positive attitudes which have allowed us to overcome some of the struggles we've had."
The Lady Mocs will travel to Miami Shores to face Barry University on Dec. 5 for their first SSC game of the season.
"I think our greatest obstacle will be consistency," Johnson said. "We have to continue to play well each game; no excuses."
Both starters and those on the bench have contributed to the team's success so far this season.
All 13 Lady Mocs on the team have had the opportunity to play and tack on to the team's 488 points so far this season.
The usual trio of junior captain Chelsea Johnson, sophomore Michaela Hawley and sophomore Megan Dzikas has been consistent for the team this year and combine for 294 points and has started all games so far this season.
In the Mocs first three-straight wins of the season, Johnson averaged 25.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals for that week and earned the honor of being SSC Player of the Week.
Johnson has also already established a new career game high of 38 points in a game.
Hawley's pressure on both ends of the court has also been key to the team's success. She has been consistent and often times provides the team with the adequate points to tie a game or secure a victory with a few minutes left on the clock.
Dzikas' offensive power has posed a serious threat for opponets.
In the Mocs' latest game, Johnson had to sit out after nine minutes due to a slight left hamstring pull.
Hawley was able to step up and led the team with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior Tanja Speaker has been the only other player to start all games and has given the team 25 rebounds and 10 steals this season.
Other players who have started taking the court in an impressive fashion are the younger freshmen. Emily Grayson has helped the team to victory with three-pointers and Alexis Hochstetler added 10 points to the team's victory over Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras.
With only two seniors on the team, inexperience may seem as though it should be an opponent to the Lady Mocs, but the team views this as only a positive factor to their winning season.
"This [youth] helps in a major way," Johnson said. "The younger players have upbeat and positive attitudes which have allowed us to overcome some of the struggles we've had."
The Lady Mocs will travel to Miami Shores to face Barry University on Dec. 5 for their first SSC game of the season.
"I think our greatest obstacle will be consistency," Johnson said. "We have to continue to play well each game; no excuses."
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