By Brianne Welch and Jesica Parsley
Four transfers and five freshman bring a new dynamic to the Lady Bison Basketball team’s 2013-2014 season.
Beginning his second year as head coach, Greg Brown has seen great development in the young team during the pre-season while teaching the four transfers and five freshmen the Lady Bison dynamics.
“We are teaching the basic dynamics and breaking habits of the new girls,” Brown said. “But we have seen all the players develop to what we are trying to do across the board.”
With so many new faces on the court, the team dynamic is different, but the players are embracing the new team.
“I think we’re definitely clicking,” redshirt sophomore Danay Fothergill said. “Coming from the summer to now we know each other’s tendencies and strong points. We are getting to know each other on the floor better.”
The flow between the girls as well as the team connection will drive them through a season that has already deemed the Lady Bisons the “underdog”.
“I think it’s cool to be the underdog,” Fothergill said. “Our mindset is, you all have no idea what we’re about to do.”
Coach Brown says he is pushing the team to be a little better every day in order to be in the best position to perform well and come out on the winning side.
“We always tell them we can prepare you but then competing is what you do in the game,” Brown said. “We have to get better every day, play hard and play smart. That’s what we want people to see and if we do that then we will be put in position to win.”
Play calling and the Lady Bison’s presence on the court will have a little different look this season. The girls on the team will be allowed to read plays and make quick decisions in the midst of the game.
“Coach has done a good job of recruiting players that are basketball intelligent,” Fothergill said. “We have more freedom this year to read the defense rather than having full out set plays, read a screen and play off it.”
Sophomore Alex Banks is one of the three returning starters. She was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman last season and is excited to begin play.
“I think we are very prepared on all aspects of the game, and I’m expecting us to surprise a lot of people,” Banks said.
The Lady Bison will play their first exhibition game on Oct. 28 against Freed Hardeman, and the second exhibition game will be on Nov. 6 against Fisk. The regular season game will tip-off on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. against Morehead State in Allen Arena.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics