Women’s basketball prepares to prove themselves in NESCAC play
by Kelcie Zarle ’22, Staff Writer
“Flip your switch! Season is finally here!” Coach Mo Green, second-year Head Coach of the Hamilton College women’s basketball team, said to the team at the start of their first official practice of the 2019–20 season. “It’s a new season. It’s time to grow from last year and get better. There’s literally nowhere to go but up, so we are in the perfect position to show everyone what we are really capable of.”
With just a few practices left before the team’s first game at home against SUNY Canton on Saturday, Nov. 16, the team has flipped its collective switch and is eager to start the new season.
Green was right; there is nowhere to go but up. During the 2018–19 season, the team went 10–12 overall and 0–10 in NESCAC play. The Continentals began last season with a 7-game winning streak which included hard-earned wins against tough out-of-conference teams like SUNY Potsdam and Utica College. Though the schedule showed a winless conference record, it should be noted that 7 of the 10 losses were by fewer than 10 points with 4 of those defeats coming by 5 points or less. Save for losses to nationally-ranked Amherst College, Bowdoin College, and Tufts University, the Continentals competed in every game from start to finish.
“We had so many close games last year, and I think now that we’ve had a chance to play together for a season and figure out the new style of play Coach introduced, we will be in a better position to win those close games this year,” said Marie Steiner ’20, a senior captain from Pully, Switzerland. On the court, Steiner has been a key contributor to the team for the past three years, using her speed and explosive first step to keep opponents off-balance. She comes into the season having scored nearly 500 points–many of them blowing past her defenders on the way to the hoop for layups. “I hope we get a good ranking in the first round of playoffs and go far–that would be the best way to end my career here at Hamilton. It’s weird thinking that after all these years this is my last basketball season, but this team will always be my favorite part of basketball, so I’m really excited about the next few months.”
Last year also marked Head Coach Green’s and Assistant Coach Nanyamka Moore’s inaugural years, which proved to be a positive learning experience for everyone involved.
“This season is going to be different because everyone is putting forth a lot of effort and energy, which makes the start of the season very exciting,” said Carly O’Hern ’20, the sharpshooting senior captain from Jamesville, N.Y. O’Hern heads into this season with 566 career points. She has proven to be a prolific scorer from beyond the 3-point arc; she has knocked down 80 during her career as a Continental. “Every person on our team has the ability to be a star player and have a game where they carry the rest of us. We are also playing an up-tempo style of basketball, which is a change from previous years.”
Mackenzie Aldridge ’20, another senior captain from Mystic, CT, added, “I think this is going to be the best season I’ve had at Hamilton. I think this season is already different than others because we are more competitive and our chemistry is significantly better than it has been in the past.” Aldridge, the gritty, multi-skilled combo guard, takes as much pride in draining 3-pointers as she does in stopping opponents from scoring. She enters this season having recorded over 300 points, 100 assists, and 100 rebounds in her time at Hamilton. “I think everyone has bought into changing the culture this year. Our goals for the season are to improve our record and compete more in NESCAC play, which I think we are on par to do, so I’m looking forward to that because we have something to prove.”
O’Hern spoke on behalf of all three seniors when she noted, “I want to finish my career with a win in the NESCAC tournament and with all of my teammates by my side. We play a number of ranked teams in both non-conference and conference play and if we could win a couple of those games then I will be very happy and will finish my career on a high note.”
The team will play at home in the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House at 1:00 P.M. this Saturday, Nov. 16, against SUNY Canton, then will be on the road for 7 straight games until they take on Utica College at home on Monday, Dec. 9. NESCAC play begins on Friday, Jan. 10, when the Continentals will get down to business in Williamstown, M.A. and take on the Williams College Ephs.
O’Hern made sure to emphasize that “We play some of the best teams in the conference at home this season, so everyone should come out and support your Hamilton women’s basketball team!” As Coach Green said, it is, indeed, time to flip the switch, as the 2019–20 season is finally upon us.
