Women’s hoops squad marks yet another first
With each day there is a new step for the Utah State women’s basketball team. On Saturday, it was its first official practice in 17 years, and as expected, the players were a little nervous.
“I thought we had a good practice,” said Head Coach Raegan Pebley. “I could tell the players had some jitters, but you expect that when it’s your first day of practice at this level.”
The only USU hoopster who has seen playing time at the Division I level is guard Virginia Jennings.
She transferred from Buffalo after her sophomore season. While there, she started 50 of the 53 games she played and averaged almost 30 minutes. As a sophomore she averaged 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
“You can tell that [Jennings] is ready a little bit more because she has been there and nobody else has,” said assistant coach Bradley Dance. “With nine freshmen, a lot of people are trying to figure things out.”
And it doesn’t help that the team isn’t at full strength right now.
Jennings twisted her ankle early last week during a pickup game and has to have it taped.
Stephanie Grant, who transferred from Dixie State, and her sister Tiffany Peterson are injured. Grant had knee surgery in August and Peterson has chronic shin splits.
Also, Brittany Hagen is having knee problems.
“It is just something that happens,” said assistant coach John Bartleson. “There are teams all around the country that have the same problems right now. It is just something you have to expect is going to happen. When your whole team is healthy you just count your blessings.”
But all injuries aside, the players are excited for their first game Nov. 21 against Southern Utah University.
Center Ali Aird said the first practice of the year was hard, but worth it, because the team learned a lot of new drills.
“It feels good,” said the Salt Lake Community College transfer. “It feels good to finally have a ball in our hands and work together as a team.”
Said forward Brittany Tressler, “I’m so excited this day has finally come. I’ve been a way for a long time and it’s nice to finally practice with a game to shoot for. Last year we would count down the months and days, just waiting for this day to come.”
Tressler, Jennings, Grant and Jessica Freeman were enrolled at Utah State last school year and were redshirts, becoming familiar with Pebley’s style of coaching.
Pebley said she could tell the returners from last season felt the intensity level had picked up and the amount of work that needs to be done over the next month.
Jennings agreed.
“We don’t have any time to waste,” she said. “A month is not a long time. We have very talented players and the sky’s the limit for us this season. We just need to get better every practice.”
And improving in practice is something Dance is confident the team will do each day, beginning Monday.
Although Aird signed with the team in late August, she said the team is gelling well already.
“It just keeps getting better and better,” she said. “We can tell we are coming more together as a team. We do things off the court like going to football games and volleyball matches. It’s fun.”
-juag@cc.usu.edu
Camille Brox (left) drives past Terrin Johnson during women´s basketball practice on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Talbot)