McDaniel College?s Rebecca Martin, like any other basketball coach, entered this season with certain expectations of her team.
Entering her 26th season at the helm, Martin knew her team had a shot at the Centennial Conference title. But she didn?t think it would be in first place at 12-1 in the conference (18-2 overall) with two weeks left in the season.
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“I did not expect us to be where we are at this point,” Martin said. “It is a great tribute to the team and what they have accomplished.”
Martin credits her five seniors for keeping McDaniel on top in the conference. The team is going for its first conference title since 2004.
“It is difficult for a team to shut five people down, and that is why we have been successful,” she said.
Having so many contributors helps take the pressure off of Katy Powell and Heather Thompson, the team?s top scorers, and allows the Green Terror to keep an up-tempo pace during games.
McDaniel?s next game is tonight at long-time rival Johns Hopkins (12-7, 10-4), the one conference team that has figured out the Green Terror this season. The Blue Jays, who scored a 66-60 win at McDaniel on Dec. 5, are tied with Gettysburg for third in league play and sit on the playoff bubble.
“It is always a big game, and it is the biggest test we have had this semester,” said Johns Hopkins coach Nancy Funk.
Since losing to Johns Hopkins, the Green Terror has gone on to a 14-game winning streak.
“We have to break that stride,” Funk said. “They?ve got a lot of confidence, and that makes them dangerous.”
Funk stressed that her team is still young, but the players have been working to cut back on rookie mistakes. Bouncing back from a loss at Dickinson last week with victories at Swarthmore and Haverford was a step forward for the Blue Jays.
“We anticipate that we are going into hostile territory,” Martin said of Johns Hopkins? Goldfarb Gym. “No matter how good or bad either team is every year, both teams get up for the rivalry.”
JAYS ANT TERROR TANGLE
» McDaniel leads the all-time series with Johns Hopkins, 32-26.
» Senior guard Katy Powell leads McDaniel with 13.4 points a game. Fellow senior, Heather Thompson, checks in with 10.6 points per game.
» Senior forward Julie Miller continues to top Johns Hopkins scoring and rebounding with 11.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
