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Baldwin-Tener's first year filled with ups and downs
By John Swartz, Sports Correspondent
GREENVILLE -- Every athletic team starts a season with goals in mind. The East Carolina women's basketball team is no different, and one of their goals could be realized this weekend. ECU head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener has her team poised to qualify for the Conference USA Tournament for the first time.
Like any other season on any other team, the Lady Pirates have gone though buildups, letdowns, elation and disappointment. This season has brought more ups and downs than Phil Mickelson during a round of golf.
The Pirates went from a December four-game winning streak with wins against such teams as Alabama and North Carolina A&T to a January four-game losing streak with all losses to conference opponents.
"After the game against Alabama, we had some more confidence," Baldwin-Tener said. "Before going into that weekend we had only won one game. We beat Bethune Cookman the night before. That helped build confidence and maybe a little more trust in the system."
The win against Alabama gave the Pirates the U.S. Cellular Classic championship, a tournament that Minges has hosted for the past two season. Last season, the Pirates went 0-2 and were the last place finishers in their own tournament.
"It feels good because it's out tournament," said junior Courtney Willis. "Last year, well, that's not how you're supposed to host your tournament. You are not supposed to go 0-2 in your own tournament. (This year) we came in and won our own tournament at home, and that's great."
With a roster that is so similar to last year's, several players have upped their play and increased their game impact. Sophomore Jennifer Jackson went from six points-per-game last year to leading the team with just under 18 points-per-game this season. Against Alabama, Jackson turned in one of her best games of the year. She posted 30 points and nine rebounds.
"I thought Jackson had a lot of potential," Baldwin-Tener said. "I can't say that I thought that (Jackson would be leading the team in scoring), I think that I knew early on some of the things she could do. With her quick drives, and her shot from the outside and her post-up ability, she's a really hard player to guard. I knew should would be a huge contributor, but I didn't think that she would have some of the games that she's had."
The coaching staff has stressed rebounding and boxing out more than anything this year. ECU, as the smallest team in the league (average height of players) has a positive rebounding margin.
"If you look at the box scores, any time we rebound, we play well," Baldwin-Tener said. "Because of our size, we have to work even harder at getting rebounds than most teams do. We're not to a point where we box out right every time, but it's something that we are just going to keep working on. I think as the season has gone on, the players understand the importance of the extra possessions you get through rebounds."
At the start of the season, C-USA released the coach's poll, which showed the ECU women picked to finish last in the standings. With one more game left on the schedule, the Lady Pirates are currently two spots from the bottom and in position to get into post season play for the first time since their days in the CAA.
"I think as far as our team is concerned," Baldwin-Tener said, "any time you are picked to finish last, you really don't want to be there at season's end. It's hard to say you're really happy being (12-14). But I think we have to take little steps, and go from here."
East Carolina closes its regular season at home today against Southern Mississippi. The game will begin at 2 p.m. at Minges Coliseum. The team will participate in the C-USA tournament, which begins later this week.
Like any other season on any other team, the Lady Pirates have gone though buildups, letdowns, elation and disappointment. This season has brought more ups and downs than Phil Mickelson during a round of golf.
The Pirates went from a December four-game winning streak with wins against such teams as Alabama and North Carolina A&T to a January four-game losing streak with all losses to conference opponents.
"After the game against Alabama, we had some more confidence," Baldwin-Tener said. "Before going into that weekend we had only won one game. We beat Bethune Cookman the night before. That helped build confidence and maybe a little more trust in the system."
The win against Alabama gave the Pirates the U.S. Cellular Classic championship, a tournament that Minges has hosted for the past two season. Last season, the Pirates went 0-2 and were the last place finishers in their own tournament.
"It feels good because it's out tournament," said junior Courtney Willis. "Last year, well, that's not how you're supposed to host your tournament. You are not supposed to go 0-2 in your own tournament. (This year) we came in and won our own tournament at home, and that's great."
With a roster that is so similar to last year's, several players have upped their play and increased their game impact. Sophomore Jennifer Jackson went from six points-per-game last year to leading the team with just under 18 points-per-game this season. Against Alabama, Jackson turned in one of her best games of the year. She posted 30 points and nine rebounds.
"I thought Jackson had a lot of potential," Baldwin-Tener said. "I can't say that I thought that (Jackson would be leading the team in scoring), I think that I knew early on some of the things she could do. With her quick drives, and her shot from the outside and her post-up ability, she's a really hard player to guard. I knew should would be a huge contributor, but I didn't think that she would have some of the games that she's had."
The coaching staff has stressed rebounding and boxing out more than anything this year. ECU, as the smallest team in the league (average height of players) has a positive rebounding margin.
"If you look at the box scores, any time we rebound, we play well," Baldwin-Tener said. "Because of our size, we have to work even harder at getting rebounds than most teams do. We're not to a point where we box out right every time, but it's something that we are just going to keep working on. I think as the season has gone on, the players understand the importance of the extra possessions you get through rebounds."
At the start of the season, C-USA released the coach's poll, which showed the ECU women picked to finish last in the standings. With one more game left on the schedule, the Lady Pirates are currently two spots from the bottom and in position to get into post season play for the first time since their days in the CAA.
"I think as far as our team is concerned," Baldwin-Tener said, "any time you are picked to finish last, you really don't want to be there at season's end. It's hard to say you're really happy being (12-14). But I think we have to take little steps, and go from here."
East Carolina closes its regular season at home today against Southern Mississippi. The game will begin at 2 p.m. at Minges Coliseum. The team will participate in the C-USA tournament, which begins later this week.
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