Women’s team shooting for a winning season

After an abnormal season last year, the women’s basketball team means business this year.

“We’re hungry,” Head Coach Cindy Griffin said at St. Joe’s women’s basketball media day on Oct. 21. “I think we have a
lot to prove. I think the players are ready to prove themselves.”

The first game of the season is Nov. 9 against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Junior guard Kaliah Henderson said she is optimistic about the team’s potential.

“We’re hard working, we always bring 100% every day at practice,” Henderson said at media day. “I just can’t wait for the game to start because it will definitely translate.”

The team had summer workouts this offseason after not being able to have them last year. According to fifth-year guard Katie Jekot, the summer workouts were beneficial for team chemistry.

“With covid we weren’t allowed to do anything until we got to school,” Jekot said at media day. “This summer, we were able to be together as a team with the freshmen. Just getting to know each other and getting to know how we play on the court together was definitely beneficial.”

According to Griffin, with the team’s five covid pauses last season, they never had the chance to fully gel. She said that this year, they already have great chemistry.

“Last year, it was so crazy with all the starts and stops, but this team is just very resilient, they like each other,” Griffin said.

Having more practices means the team will be able to not only cultivate that cohesion, but also have more time to work on areas they need to improve. One such area is each player taking care of the ball. Jekot said the team has focused on its assist to turnover ratio in practice.

“We try to get two [assists] to one [turnover], individually, and that helps the team out,” Jekot said.

Another point of emphasis for the team is to play without fouling, according to Griffin.

“We have to limit our fouls this season,” Griffin said. “We have to understand how to play defense, footwork, taking angles away and tendencies of the other team.”

Whether it be with assists to turnovers, fouls, or other points of emphasis, the team is always trying to move forward, according
to Henderson.

“We don’t look at the past, we try to be in the present,” Henderson said. “Our biggest motto is doing a small thing, and progressing and getting better every day.”

Their improvement will be tested in the team’s non-conference schedule. The Hawks will play in a multi-team event at the Van Chancellor Classic on Nov. 26-28, host an SEC opponent, Vanderbilt, at Hagan Arena on Dec. 21 and compete in a full Big 5 slate.

“I think it’s a hard schedule, but I think it’s fair,” Griffin said. “[The] Big 5 games are not going to be high scoring games; they’re going to be bloodbaths. But those games will help us in the Atlantic 10.”

With the season just around the corner, the team is excited to go out and compete.

Jekot has one goal in mind.

“I want a winning season. That’s everybody’s dream,” Jekot said.