TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

On Friday, you open your season against not only one of your biggest rivals, but returning MAAC Champion Canisius, who returns all five starters. After falling the past two years to the Griffs, how badly do you want to send a message by winning your season opener?
I think it’s important for us to get off on the right foot and start off with a win especially with a new coaching staff and because its our crosstown rival so the game means even more. Some of us played pick up together all summer so we know each other a little better, but its definitely important to start off with a win and I think we can do it.

You are the only senior on the team this year. How important will it be for the team to polish its skills and improve throughout the season?
It’s a key for every team every year to improve throughout the season, but especially since there’s nine underclassman, it’s going to be a challenge to improve throughout the year and not let little bumps in the road get us down. Being the only senior is kind of tough because I don’t have a lot of other upperclassmen, but I think the young kids are working hard and we’re going to be better this year.

One of the biggest changes on this year’s squad is the presence of a new coaching staff and head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. What has she brought to the team already?
The whole staff has been really patient. They’re so focused on teaching us even the littlest things and making sure we pay attention to detail. They brought a more positive atmosphere. They just want us to work hard.

One of the bright spots from last year was the emergence of MAC Freshman Player of the Year Heather Turner. What are some things that Heather was able to bring to the team last year that made her contribute immediately?
Heather’s very strong physically in the post and she has the ability to rebound. We nicknamed her ‘Garbage’ because if we miss shots, we can count on her to get the offensive rebound. It’s kind of a joke with the team, but her ability to always get a rebound and take a ball up strong is what helps her most.

While the team struggled to a 4-24 record last year, this season you have four returning starters going into the campaign. Do you think the year of experience that the team has together will help as you go through this season?
I think having four returning starters is a big thing, especially since me and Belinda have started the past two years. Now that (Stephanie) Bennett is not going to be a freshman point guard anymore, I think that year of experience for her means a lot, because the team runs as your point guard does, so I think it’s going to be a huge help to have four returning starters.

You finished second on the squad in rebounding last year, averaging 4.1 boards per game, and 35 of your 111 rebounds were offensive. What is the key to getting an offensive rebound?
The key to getting offensive rebounds is just outworking your defender because half the time they don’t box out anyway so as long as you go to the glass, you have a better chance of getting it or at least tipping it to your teammate. Basically, you just have to stay aggressive.

Last year, Alumni Arena was renovated and you’ve also seen the finishing of the women’s basketball locker room and the Stephen Walsh basketball offices. How exciting has it been to see UB’s commitment to basketball grow in the last four years?
It’s been great since I’ve been here. One of the reasons I came here was Alumni, anyway, but with the renovations they did, I think our arena is one of the nicest in the conference. The new basketball offices, I haven’t seen any of the other schools have anything like that. I think it’s just great to see that people that are committed to helping us get better.

This year, you will be playing with Jamie Schiebner from your high school, Heritage. How nice is it to have someone with the same background, even if you never played on the same squad together before this year, to be able to work with on a daily basis?
It’s been fun because we have inside jokes about our high school coach and stuff. I knew Jamie because when I would go back, we would work out together. We know each other. It’s nice to have somebody from where you’re from. Even though there’s other kids from Michigan, it’s different and I think we just have a different bond. It’s easier for me to be there for her.

Your brother, Mickey, helped Oklahoma to a College World Series title in 1994. How exciting was that for you and your family in the weeks leading up to the final games?
My oldest brother and I are really close. He was the starting catcher and we drove like 18 hours out there (to Omaha). I remember that trip, but it was awesome to just be like, ‘Wow, that’s my big brother playing’ and everything. My whole family was excited. We all went down and it was just a great environment to be there.

What has been your favorite moment as a UB athlete?
I have two. I think last year, when our team was struggling so much and then we were able to pull out a big win over Miami (OH) (80-61 on Jan. 12) that proved that we could still play and that we were still around. That was just one game that I’ll never forget because we were all on the same page and everything. Everything was just so easy and we had such a good flow. The other thing is when the guys went to the NIT last year. I was pretty close with Turner Battle, Mark Bortz and them because I was around for three years with them, so it was awesome to see their hard work pay off and everything with the men’s team.

- “The 10 Questions With…” feature is compiled by Joe Guistina.