The women’s basketball team is ready to kick off its season, and despite the lack of returning experienced players, the team is confident it will have a successful season.

The goal of this team is two-fold. First, it wants to secure a spot in the Big Sky Tournament. The top six teams of the conference will compete and the winner will play in the NCAA tournament in March.

Sophomore captain and guard Sami Field-Polisso put it best by saying, “I think this season will be a failure if we don’t reach the Big Sky Tournament, without a doubt.”

Secondly, the team will be looking to end the season with its record above .500. With a 29 game season the bottom line is clear – it needs to end with a record of 15 wins and 14 losses, or better. The best way to do this? Simply defend its home turf at the Hornet’s Nest.

Coach Dan Muscatell and his players agree that the best way to reach their goal is to strive for a perfect 12-0 record at home which will relieve some of the pressure they feel on the road and set them up to obtain both their goals.

This year’s squad is able to boast only one senior, but the nucleus of the team is returning for its second season together and will be building upon familiarity with one another.

“I like our work ethic, our attitude, and our chemistry,” Muscatell said. “This is a team that genuinely likes each other. They want to win the Big Sky and make the NCAA Tournament, they set that goal for themselves. That’s what they are working toward, and that’s exciting to work with everyday as a coach.”

The team clearly possesses desire and potential, but what of the tools that it will require to translate that into victory? The team will be looking for leadership from its captains, most of all the team’s single returning senior, forward and center Atty Boyer. Coming off her junior season, Boyer led the team in both scoring and rebounding averaging 12.6 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. Future success will be anchored upon consistent performances such as these.

The team’s largest addition this season comes in the form of freshman center Karri Gallagher. Standing 6’3, Gallagher brings some much needed size to a team that has had to do without it over the past few years. Muscatell was clear in stating how important her role within the team is this year. He was quick to cite the Big Sky as a “shooter’s conference” and explained the opportunity this presents.

“Not only will it create new strategic opportunities both offensively and defensively but having that inside option in a conference like the Big Sky can be the difference between a decisive victory and crushing defeat,” Muscatell said.

Gallagher’s teammates understand how critical her contribution will be as well.

“Karri doesn’t have time to be a freshman,” said junior forward Erika Edwards. “In order for us to succeed she needs to perform and she has been doing a great job of that.”

“She has a lot of pressure on her shoulders. The coaches are not treating her like a freshman,” said junior forward Charday Hunt. “We need for her to perform like an upper classman.”

Outside of the need for strong individual play, the Hornets will need to make improvements in other areas of team play if it plans to be successful.

Defensively, the team allowed their opponent to score over 70 ppg last year. If the Hornets plan to keep pace with their adversaries’ point production, its defense will need to limit them to no more than 60 ppg this season. The Hornets will be counting on the leadership, wisdom, and maturity of returning players to improve its offense.

The team will need to take better care of the ball and reduce turnovers, and the field goal percentage will be looking to improve as well, by a simple means of better shot selection. Additionally, players will need to sustain these efforts through all 40 minutes of each game.

Last year’s team was able to start strong in the first half of games but after halftime had difficulties sustaining a high level of play. This year’s improvements will need to be consistent, as will player’s effort.

With the road clear and the desire to charge ahead, there is only one looming hurdle on the horizon that could prove too devious to overcome for the team: the injury bug.

While the team plays with heart, promise, and confidence, the possibility of losing a star like Boyer, or a key tactical player like Gallagher could prove insurmountable.

In the past, random strikes from this foe have gotten the best of this team and have had a profound impact. The players understand this and they enter this season recovering from injuries including knee surgeries and broken noses. With this in mind, the players recognize their health and conditioning throughout the season may be as critical as the effort they provide on the court 40 minutes a night.

The Hornets next home game will be against Fresno State at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday at the Hornet’s Nest.

Andrew McFadden can be reached at [email protected]