Women's Basketball | 11/8/2023 1:16:00 PM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — For the second consecutive year, the women's basketball team sets their sights on two familiar teams from the Gulf South Conference. The Bucs, together with Lynn University, representing the Sunshine State Conference, will take on Shorter University and Christian Brothers University, who hail from the GSC.
This year's team includes 11 new players to the roster along with an entirely new coaching staff. Putting behind the ups and downs of last season, the team appears to be coming into this season with a fresh mindset and determination to succeed.
Senior center Trinity Bosecker has played under three different coaches during her tenure at Barry. Last season was her most impressive to date. Bosecker averaged a team leading 1.2 blocks per game while chipping in 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 42 percent from the floor. She also led the team, averaging just over 24 minutes per game on the floor. Bosecker candidly discussed how the team culture has changed from the previous season:
"There's a drive this year compared to last year. Around this time last year we were all burnt out. We were thinking, 'do we actually want to play this season? Do we want to finish this out?' Whereas this year it's like, 'no, we can do this.' We have the potential to be a really good team and we have the potential to play with the top teams in the conference. We just gotta prove it," Bosecker said.
Junior guard Ana Gascon, entering her second season at Barry, also shared her thoughts about the change of culture this year compared to last season:
"Everyone wants to win. People are not just here to be here. Compared to last year, we felt like the team wasn't unified. This year, we all know what we want," Gascon said.
The team's shift in attitude is not accidental; it appears that in her brief tenure at Barry, new Buccaneers coach Heather Macy has already successfully imposed her mindset on the team.
When asked about what her coaching philosophy truly is, Macy replied, "We have a system in how we want to play basketball, so we're sticking with that system. The buy-in has been unbelievable. The attitudes are incredible and they're willing to work. So I think that those are all great traits that we can put together for some quality basketball."
Macy also gave her insight in what she believes her team's main strength will be this year:
"I hope it's our effort because I think we see that every single day in practice. They are constantly on loose balls. The defensive intensity seems to be right now our bread and butter."
IN THE HUDDLE:
The first game of this year's crossover tips off this Friday at 12 p.m., with Lynn taking on Shorter. Later on that same day, the Bucs will begin their season at 5:30 p.m. against Christian Brothers.
After starting last year's crossover tournament with a convincing win against Shorter, the Bucs fell to Christian Brothers in a close game 73-68. Christian Brothers, also the Buccaneers, is led by talented junior forward, Jeremia Montgomery. Montgomery excelled last season, leading her team in points per game (14.4), rebounds (6.5), steals (1.9), and blocks (1.0). Her selection to the Preseason All-Gulf South Conference team cements her status as a formidable opponent for the Buccaneers.
The following day, Barry will tip off against Shorter at 2 p.m. With her top three scorers back for the start of the season, third-year coach LaSheena Brooks, will be aiming to improve on the rough season they had last year.
Macy detailed how she believes her team can rack up wins this weekend and going forward:
"If we score the basketball, get 75 plus shots, value the basketball ... if we're hitting shots, valuing the basketball, that's the direction in which we really want to play. Ultimately, we want to win. So how do we win? We better rebound really hard. We better guard really tough. The biggest message I keep giving to the players is Friday doesn't define what kind of season we have. I feel that we are gonna be a way better team as March basketball approaches than we are gonna be in November."
With the start her last season approaching, Bosecker eloquently shared her message to the rest of team regarding the season and about what she's learned in her collegiate career:
"Honestly, enjoy what's given to you because what is going to be given isn't always going to be set in stone. You just have to take advantage of it and just be happy with what you're given. You just have to make the most of it. Obviously, coming off from last season into this season, no one had a clue what was going on. I mean, we didn't have a coach, we didn't have an assistant coach. We didn't know who was coming back. So being able to come into this year with still a good group of returners and add a really great group of people who meshed in with these returners," Bosecker said.
The Barry University women's basketball team of 2023-24 certainly appears to be heading in the right direction. Their opportunity to continue their improvement and prove themselves as a true threat in the conference begins this Friday!
ON THE HORIZON:
The Bucs will continue their season this Nov. 17 at home against Virginia State University. The game will have an early 2:00 pm start.
About Barry University Athletics
Barry University has sponsored NCAA Division II athletics for 39 years, winning 28 national championships in eight sports, crowning 429 All-Americans in 13 sports and over 640 scholar All-Americans. Barry is a proud member of the Sunshine State Conference "The Conference of National Champions" with 105 league titles since joining in 1988-89. The Buccaneers have NCAA men's teams in soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, baseball, golf, and tennis and women's teams in soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, swimming, beach volleyball, golf, rowing, softball and tennis.
