Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks working hard as season nears
11/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s basketball team continues to work hard as they prepare to start their Patriot League title defense exactly one week from now. With almost three weeks of practice and one scrimmage in the books head coach Sue Troyan says she is impressed with how competitive the team has been. “The players are working hard and we’re highly competitive with all of the depth we have. We’re learning a lot of new plays offensively and defensively; we have to continue to show improvement.”
Junior Aly Byroick provided her thoughts on the progress at practice, “Practice has been very competitive. We’re learning a lot of new things to get everyone acclimated to the system, but everything has been going well.”
The Mountain Hawks participated in their first scrimmage last Saturday and it helped show the Brown and White what it still needs to work on.
“The scrimmage was a good experience and it showed us we still have a lot to work on,” Troyan said. “We’re in a good place and the leadership has been strong. We now have to start to work on sorting out roles.”
Lehigh returns several players that bring back a lot of experience from last year’s team, but the Mountain Hawks did welcome in four freshmen that are adjusting to college basketball.
“The college game is a lot quicker,” freshman guard Marybeth Egan said. “There is a lot more attention to detail and the small things.”
Freshman guard Becky Guman added, “It is definitely an adjustment. I am becoming more comfortable with the pace and intensity with every practice.”
The newest guards are entering an experienced backcourt, but they’re glad to learn from two of the league’s best and are ready to help the team in any way that is needed.
“The older players are a huge help,” Guman said. “They show us how things need to be done and they have such great work ethics. I am going to look to continue working hard and bring a strong competitive spirit to make everyone better. I am ready to contribute whenever I am needed.”
Egan added, “The upperclassmen have helped out a lot especially with the small things. It’s really nice to have them around.”
Troyan has been very impressed with the newcomers because she knows it can be a tough adjustment for them. “The freshmen are doing well; systematically there are a lot of different things to what we do. They compete well and are working hard to pick up our system. They get better day by day.”
Also seeing her first action for the Brown and White this year is Byorick who transferred from Xavier last year and had to sit out due to NCAA regulations.
“I’m really excited to get back on the court,” Byorick said. “It’s been about two years since I’ve played and I am glad to be part of this team and glad to get back out there.”
The Mountain Hawks will look to start displaying their depth next Friday night on the road when they open up the season against Lipscomb at 8:30 p.m. It will be one of two games Lehigh will play in Nashville, Tenn. as it takes on No. 20/22 Vanderbilt on Sunday, November 15 at 3 p.m.
