TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

We are very excited. Everybody committed and decided to stay here this summer and that is huge. The whole team was here, lifting together, playing together. Everybody is excited to get going again

2. Basketball practice officially begins in mid-October, but that doesn’t mean that is when preparation begins for the new season. Can you talk about the work that your team does during the “off season?”

At the end of the season we get about a week off and then you come back and do post-season workouts with coaches, the hours drop to about eight hours a week. In the summer we lift three days a week and we play pick up at least three or four times a week. Then we have what you might call pre-preseason in between summer and when practice picks up in mid-October.

3. When and how did you get started playing basketball?

I was about three years old. By neighbor put up a net for her son and I started shooting on that and I’ve been playing ever since.

4. You have been named a co-captain this season, what do you think that means in terms of your role on the team this year?

Regardless I think that the mentality has always been to come in and give it your best everyday. With or without that title (of being a captain), as far as I’m concerned, everybody has a leadership role on the team. I guess that it’s a compliment from coach (to be named a captain) if you want to put it that way, but everybody comes in and everybody works hard everyday.

5. With five seniors and three juniors you have a veteran team this year. You and Stephanie Bennett have started 26 games alongside each other in the backcourt, how does the familiarity of playing so much alongside someone help you going into this season?

It’s definitely great to have Steff in the backcourt. We always work out together; we always play together, not just in game situations but outside of practice too. It’s great to know somebody’s style of play and know what they are going to do before they do it. I think, not just between Steff and I, but the team together as a whole, especially being here this summer, is getting to that level this season.

6. Your role and minutes increased significantly from your freshman year to your sophomore year. What can you take from that increased role that will help you this year?

Experience definitely. Having played those additional minutes you experience different situations. You play in close games, you learn not to let up in games that you might be winning by a lot, just adapting to certain situations, I think that is where experience helps the most.

7. What are your goals and expectations for this season, both for you individually and for the team?

Our goal as a team, one of the reasons that we all stayed up here this summer, is to get the MAC Championship. There is definitely the potential in this team, and the versatility, to do that. That has been our goal, our talk, our focus, everything for this season.

8. Besides at home in Alumni Arena, do you have a favorite place that you have played so far in your college career?

One place would be Miami (Ohio) because we have had close games there in the past. So for me I always think of them as being good competition and I like playing there for that reason.

9. If you could play any other sport at UB, what would it be and why?

Soccer, along with basketball I love soccer too, so if I were to play any other sport here it would definitely be soccer.

10. Do you have a pre-game routine and, if so, what is it?

No, I really don’t. I just go out and play.