A new era of Sac State women’s basketball has begun. The team has started the season 0-3, but still holds onto much optimism and hope that the program can be built into a Big Sky juggernaut.

Head Coach Carolyn Jenkins, the architect of this construction plan, believes that this process will be done in small steps. For that reason she focuses on the little things that make the difference.

“We’ve meet a majority of our goals each game,” Jenkins said.

Those small things or goals would include having some players play for all 40 minutes, having a balance in the team’s scoring.

In the team’s losses this year, Jenkins has also focused on the character of the team and also the things that do not go on a stat sheet.

“We’ve played extremely hard and come back from high deficits,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins task right now is to focus on the positives and to instill a winning confidence in a team that has been well below .500 for a number of years.

Last season’s team finished with a 4-19 record in the Big Sky Conference while ranking near the bottom of the league in most major statistical categories.

This year’s team was also picked to finish at the bottom of the conference in both the coaches and media polls this preseason. Still, Jenkins believes that this year’s team can compete.

“I’m focusing on right now, this year,” Jenkins said.

For the team to start winning consistently this season, they must limit their mistakes. Jenkins believes the team must improve their foul shooting, limit turnovers, and stop the other team’s key players.

The Hornets also have some key players of their own that know how to score. Michelle St. Clair is averaging 21 points per game. Sephora Scoubes has also been a viable scoring threat this season.

The team has a chance to grow this season under Jenkins, as they are young with only two returning seniors. In the following years, Jenkins will have a chance to build the team into a top program like the one she comes from. Jenkins comes to Sac State with a reputation as a strong recruiter.

The building is now underway.