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Women's basketball aims to care for 'People over Perfection'

By Hope Eckley, Staff Writer

The women’s basketball team, picked to finish eighth in the preseason polls, tips off the season on Nov. 8.

Head Coach Darin Spence finished the 2018-19 season with a record of 20-10. Spence said they have titled the 2019-20 season “People over Perfection.”

“‘People over Perfection” simply means our first step is to take care of the people in our program. When we do that, the abilities and play will take care of itself. We have worked in this program to build it the right way,” Spence said.

The team has lots of experience coming back, and the girls on the team know exactly who they are as players on the court, Spence said.

The MIAA schedule will be tough, but the difficult non-conference schedule will help prepare the team for conference play ahead, Spence said.

This year’s team has plenty of talent to compete in the conference. All-conference guard and conference record holder senior Kaitlyn Potter is leading the way for the team to head into the season, Spence said.

All-conference performer and conference freshman of the year Faith Mason-Vestal is coming back from a knee injury that she suffered in the postseason tournament in March last year.

“We believe Faith is making progress and will be back with us in the days ahead,” Spence said.

Junior Haley Albers is back for her third year along with Abbey George, and both are healthy and ready to play at the high level, Spence said.

The players have stepped up and filled the roles of the seniors that the team lost. This team has more experience and more depth, Spence said.

The MIAA conference is tough and is going to come as a big challenge but this team is ready, Spence said.

“I do believe we have what it takes to be competitive and play at a high level this season,” Spence said. “Post season play in the MIAA conference tournament is our first goal and making it to the NCAA tournament is the goal right after that. In time this group can become a postseason team.”

PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, Newman Athletics