Women’s Basketball Season Opener

As the beginning of the season is around the corner, Frostburg State’s Women’s Basketball team is prepared for a tough season against heightened competition like Christopher Newport, Mary Washington and Salisbury.

The Bobcats plan to bounce back from a sub-par season last year, ending with a 6-19 record overall and 3-15 in CAC competition.

Head Coach Carrie Saunders is pushing for the team to make major improvements this year, but hopes to do so without their impressive guard, Ronje James.  James finished her Frostburg career reaching the 1,000-point milestone and being ranked 12^th in program history with a total of 1,300 points.  James also tied a school record with 44 points in the double-overtime victory against York.

This year’s roster is placed with many new faces and players like Megan Kelly, Carissa Shepko, Jasmin Tirado-Viscalla, and a junior college transfer, Kirsten Rayner, who can surely make a post season push as it gets later in the year.  The Bobcats are led this year by senior forward Courtney Young who was important to successes the team had last year on the court, finishing in the top three of offensive and defensive rebounds, as well as blocked shots.  Frostburg also had the help of Adjowa Pinkrah, a freshman guard who saw a lot of playing time, and Kache Fields who gave the Bobcats a spark off the bench.

When asked about excitement for the upcoming season with so many new faces on the team, Pinkrah says, “I’m very excited.  We have so much potential to display and it should be a successful season that lies ahead of us.”

It seems as though there are many newcomers to this team, but everyone is on the same page and is aware of the common goal of the team.  With everyone understanding their role and understanding what Coach Saunders and Assistant Coach Sharay Hall expects from everyone on and off the court, the Bobcats should have a satisfying season.

“Yes, in my opinion we will do better as our record this year.  As a team, we have taken the time to build chemistry amongst ourselves on and off the court,” Pinkrah says on how the team will look this year on paper.

The Bobcats hope to dominate in CAC play and non-conference competition such as La Roche of Pittsburgh, PA, Juniata of Huntingdon, PA and Mount Aloysius of Cresson, PA.  All games throughout the season are naturally important, but the coaches have stressed how the non-conference games are must wins for the Bobcats.  These wins will prove the seriousness of the hard work the lady Bobcats have put in.

“The returning players roll is actually more crucial and important this year because of our experience from last year’s games.  We know what to expect in certain games from the atmosphere to the opposing players, which will allow us to help our freshman throughout the season,” Kache Fields says.

The Bobcats open their season on Monday, November 16 at La Roche at 7:00 pm.