ANTIGONISH, N.S. — ANTIGONISH - The young St. F.X. X-Women varsity basketball team continues to take it one step at a time.
“We are feeling really good about where we are at – we have a great group of fighters,” second-year head coach Lee Anna Osei said.
The program, which had only two Atlantic University Sport (AUS) victories over the past three regular campaigns, including going winless last season, is 1-6 heading into the Christmas break.
Along with their 96-88 victory over the UPEI Panthers – Nov. 9 on Coach ‘K’ Court – Osei noted the team has been competitive in several other matchups.
“It was over before it started,” she said of the mindset heading into games last season – a lineup burdened by losing for so long.
While experiencing progress on the court, including a long-awaited regular-season victory, Osei added – more and more – the team realizes that “they can compete with anybody.”
Nevertheless, she noted with youth, as is the case with most teams, there is inconsistency, with the X-Women head coach noting they have experienced “a lot of slumps.”
“We still play, at times, like a team with a lot of rookies, which is who we are,” Osei said.
She added there will continue to be “peaks and valleys” as the team matures and improves.
“We believe in them,” Osei said.
She also credits veteran co-captains Jamie McCarron and Kimberly Kingsbury for their “tremendous leadership.”
“They are great at keeping everyone together and positive,” Osei said.
‘Everyone’ contributing
Although they have accomplished a lot “on the backs of our rookies,” Osei said there has been impact from “everyone” on the roster.
“There have also been meaningful contributions from our veterans and returnees,” she added.
With that in mind, Osei said talking about who has played well so far this season is a “tough one.”
Freshman Aliyah Fraser leads the team in scoring – her 15.6 points per game places her sixth in the conference scoring race.
Osei called the New Glasgow native “our most consistent player.”
“We have asked her to take on more,” she said, including more point guard duties with the season-ending injury to sophomore Lucia MacKay.
With that role expected to continue and expand in the second half, Osei said the rookie has been working diligently on her ball-handling skills.
“Aliyah has a great ability to change the momentum of a game,” she added.
Osei said another prized freshman, Briar MacDonald, has been playing “really well.”
“She continues to grow and improve,” she added of the Antigonish native, who is averaging 11.9 points per game.
Osei praised her work ethic, noting she has been in the gym working on her game over the break, including time in the weight room building up her strength.
“Like I have been saying for a while, Briar has the potential to be one of the best players in the country,” she said.
Osei described freshman post player Karina Sarai as “probably our most efficient player,” considering her production, including 8.1 points per game, in fewer minutes.
“Because of her presence inside, we knew that she would make an immediate impact offensively,” she noted of the Surrey, B.C. native.
Even with the strong starts for those three freshmen – and other newcomers – Osei cautioned “it is going to take time for our rookies to come into their own.”
“We have to remain patient and not try to fast forward the process,” she said.
‘Not ruled out’
Although the X-Women have not made any roster additions heading into the second half, at some point there may be a new – but familiar – contributor to the lineup.
“It is still not ruled out,” Osei said, when asked about the possible return of forward Brianna Gottschall, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since last season.
She explained, since the summer, the X-Women program has focussed on a timeline that targeted a return in the new year for the former AUS all-rookie team member.
Noting she is “moving pretty well,” Osei added Gottschall has been training with the team, but she hasn’t been cleared for contact drills.
“We would love to have her back in the second half, but we are not going to rush her,” she said.
Osei noted they will know more about a possible return after Gottschall visits with her orthopedic surgeon in early January.
“We will see then where she is at,” she said.
Back in action
Unlike in the past several seasons, the X-Women will not play any exhibition or tournament games during the holidays.
“We have been talking about what we need to do differently,” Osei said of her coaching staff.
The team returned to the court Dec. 27.
On the defensive side, considering the size and athleticism on the roster, Osei said the ingredients are there for improvement.
“That is something that we can control – we need to get more stops,” she added.
On the offensive side, Osei said more work is required in setting up their “tremendous shooters,” along with improvement on the fast break and “using our interior weapons” in the half court.
“We also need to take care of the ball better,” she added.
The X-Women will resume AUS regular season play Saturday, Jan. 4, when they travel to Fredericton to face the UNB Reds.
They are back on Coach ‘K’ Court at the Saputo Centre Wednesday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 11 for match-ups with the Dalhousie Tigers.
Tip-off for both games is 6 p.m.
