Women's Basketball Opens Season Against LIU Brooklyn on Saturday
11/13/2015 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The motto for this year's University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team is "We Want More." Despite the obstacles that lie ahead, including the loss of last season's top four scorers, the Bulls are working toward surpassing last season's historic milestones.
UB finished with a 19-13 overall record with a 11-7 mark in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls secured their first 19-win season since going 19-9 in 2000-01. It was also the first time the program had reached back-to-back winning seasons in more than a dozen years (1999-00, 2001-01). For the first time in school history, the Bulls reached the WNIT postseason tournament. They also advanced to the semifinals of the MAC postseason tournament for the second time in program history as the No. 4 seed.
This year they'll be without all-time great Bulls Kristen Sharkey (now a member of the coaching staff) and Christa Baccas who combined for 21.8 points and 15.8 rebounds. Sharkey, who led the team in scoring, was named to the 2014-15 All-MAC Second Team, while Baccas wrapped up MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference in blocked shots. Incoming senior Mackenzie Loesing, another player whose name appears across the UB career record books, was granted a medical disqualification by the NCAA due to repeated ankle surgeries. Last season's MAC Sixth Player of the Year reached the 1,000 point milestone and after just three years of playing currently ranks 9th and 8th respectively on the career scoring average and points scored lists.
The departures mean a once veteran-led team has a tremendous amount of youth. The 2015-16 Bulls have just three upperclassmen. While some might label the group inexperienced, fourth-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jacks says they're exciting and energizing.
"I am so giddy about this team," she said. "I love this. This is why I chose to do this profession for so long in my 27th year of coaching. This team is so wide-eyed, open to all the constructive criticism and they're asking to learn and have us teach them."
Fresh Faces
Not only are there just two juniors (Joanna Smith and Camera Miley) and one senior (Karin Moss), the roster has six freshmen. As is the trend with Bulls' recruiting, it's a highly international group and one that improves UB's size.
● Mirte Scheper: The 6-foot-4 Amstelveen, Netherlands native, who started the Bulls' first two preseason exhibition games, was a member of her country's U20 team and competed in the European Championships.
● Ayoleka Sodade: A 5-foot-9 guard from Windsor, Ontario, displays great athleticism and was a former track and field competitor.
● Gabi Bade: The point guard from Northern California comes to UB as a confident ball handler and long-range shooter who is a talented help-defender.
● Kandance Satterwhite: A large guard at 5-foot-10, she shot 50 percent from the floor in her senior year.
● Tamara Brcina: The 6-foot-2 forward from Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina competed on the Bosnian U18 women's national team.
● Brittany Morrison: A versatile inside-out player at 5-foot-9, she can score inside and guard along the perimeter.
The Bulls' youth has forced players to take on new leadership roles which were gladly accepted.
"It's been...a teaching-curve for me," Smith said. "Since we have so many freshmen, I've been stepping up and teaching them plays, teaching them what Coach Jack expects offensively and defensively."
'Vets'
The Bulls don't return much experience, but it's clear early this season that the group made significant strides forward.
"I think we're coming together really well," sophomore Stephanie Reid said. "I think the exhibition games really showed us that. They showed that we could run and that's going to be a huge thing for us this year."
Reid took the MAC by storm after coming from Melbourne, Australia mid-season. She's a true, pass-first point guard with smart scoring instincts who's poised to the lead the Bulls' offense for a full year. She wants to get teammates more involved and a big part of doing that is on the fastbreak.
"Seeing my teammates run the lanes is literally the best thing I can imagine," Reid said. "Looking up and seeing Jo running the lanes, Liisa running the lanes, everyone is just running the lanes and they're running them wide so that really opens things up for me. Everybody has an opportunity (to score) with the way we're running."
Sophomore captain Liisa Ups, from Wollongong, Australia, worked hard this offseason to set an example in her new leadership position.
"It's been pretty crazy," she said. "To go from being a freshman when it's such a scary and new experience, this year is a whole new different thing. As a captain I get to have more of a role. I feel so much more comfortable with this team. It's the best feeling."
Moss figures to continue as a defensive spark off the bench for the Bulls, while Smith enters the season with expectations of a prominent scoring role. The Mississippi native closed out last year leading or tied on the team in scoring in three of the final five games.
Some players looking to increase their roles this year include Camera Miley, who started 10 games at point guard last year; Katherine Ups, who has noticeably improved from her freshman year and plays with toughness; Kansas-native Mariah Suchan, who provides solid play down low; and Courtney Wilkins who did not enter a game after coming from Australia but is a talented shooter who can play in the post and on the wing.
In the second semester UB will have 6-foot-3 sophomore transfer Cassie Oursler at their disposal. After a full calendar year of practicing with the team, she will be able to immediately help the Bulls' frontcourt.
Uptempo Offense
As Reid said, the Bulls want to run teams hard the entire game. The lack of consistent scoring carrying over from last year means the Bulls will have to be more creative scoring the basketball. That will require pushing the fastbreak aggressively, bringing exciting basketball to Alumni Arena.
"That's what's different about this team this year," Liisa Ups said. "There's a few go-to players...but we're 15-deep on the bench. We had 39 bench points (against Daemen). That's amazing."
There might be a different scorer every game as players settle into their roles. The one thing we do know is that they'll play at a fast pace.
Keeping Up the D
The Bulls are a fast and athletic team and they'll try to turn their steals and fastbreak ability into points.
"Look for us to run all over the floor," Smith said. "Coach Jack wants us energetic on defense. She wants us flying around. (She wants) more energy, more running on defense so defense can spark our offense."
The Bulls led the MAC last season in steals -- something they think they can replicate.
"We're fitter than ever," Liisa Ups said, "so our main focus is defense. We want to get in the lane, we want to pressure people, we're going to play full-court -- everything we can."
The Bulls open the season Saturday, Nov. 14 against Long Island University-Brooklyn. Tip is 1 p.m.
