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Women’s basketball preview

The women’s basketball team is coming off of one of its most difficult seasons since Head Coach Andy Hamilton ’85 rebuilt the program three years ago.

The Pioneers’ challenging schedule was exacerbated by the construction of the new gym, which forced the women to play more than half of their season on the road. The women have a lot of room to improve this year after posting a 6-17 record last season, but they are more than up to the challenge.

“I think both the members of the team and the coaching staff are excited this year,” said Hamilton.

Although the team has lost three of its guards to graduation, five new freshmen and a junior returning after being absent for a season will fill the gaps.

“The major difference between last year’s team and this year’s team is that we have more players who are taller,” said Hamilton. “We have six players who are either 5’9’’, 5’10’’ or 5’11’’, which is double the number we had last year.”

The Pioneers will be led by co-captains Lauren Meredith ’06 and Katy Bowen ’06.

Bowen has been instrumental to the transformation of the women’s basketball program.

“If you can point to any one person the team has been shaped around, it’s been senior Katy Bowen,” said Hamilton. “She has a chance to be a four year all-conference player. She’s a three year captain which is kind of extraordinary and will probably pass the 1000 point total sometime this season.”

The Pioneers will begin their season with a home game on Nov. 22 against Central College.

“We’re excited to open at home [this] Tuesday,” said Hamilton. “We have this wonderful facility now, which has helped us in practice, but we have to find a way to make it a home court advantage for us.”

Show your support for the Pioneer women and teach Central the meaning of home court advantage this Tuesday at the new Darby Gym.

—Andy Chon

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