Injuries cause women to step up

When losing its leader(s), the situation can either bring out the best or worst qualities in a team.

It can be a motivational factor by causing other members to step up and fill in for the lost one. But if no one accepts the role of leading the team, that can be its downfall.

This season, the women's basketball team is in that predicament. It lost two of its starters, last year's leading scorer Maltressa Neely and guard Anna Conrad, to injury early in the season.

After starting 3-0, the team lost three straight games after the injuries. It appeared that the team wouldn't recover.

It has taken some adjusting, but the rest of the team is learning how to move along. It is learning how to communicate and play together. The responsibilites of carrying the team have spread around and caused it to not be so dependant on one player.



Among those who have stepped up include forward/center Genesis Lewis. She grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in the team's win against Long Beach . She has been one of the more versitile players for the Falcons; driving the ball up court one play, the next play grappling for a rebound, and dipping low in the post on another one.

A returning starter from last year and All-SCC team member, guard LaTrina Payne has also increased her role by being the team's floor general and leading scorer.

Other noteworthy contributors include Jaquita Payne, Shontay Delpit (who has stepped up as a starter) and Tiffany Wilson, among others.

As the team gets further into league play, everyone will need to contribute both defensively and offensively.

It remains to be seen if the team as a whole will step up and reach for higher expectations or crash and burn.