The Taylor women’s basketball team is fighting through a slump after their most recent loss to Spring Arbor University.
After 24 games, the Taylor’s women’s basketball team stands at 6-18. They are 1-12 in the conference, with a road record of 1-10 and a home record of 5-8.
“Overall, we have a really tough conference. We are figuring things out,” head coach Cassie Wiseman said, “We have made good strides defensively, even in the few games we’ve lost. Despite the losses, we got better. We are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Wiseman sees team success in the two-three zone defensive scheme and other areas of the ball. She said they knew they had lost some tough games against good competition. The close games were often lost in the second half, but the hope was never lost.
Multiple players have stepped up this season. Senior Ava Henson and freshman Emma Fohl are two of those players. They each made vast improvements in the last five games and have gained their coach’s trust on both ends of the ball.Wiseman had plenty of positive things to say about the two of them.
“Emma has stepped up and given us another offensive threat. She has always prided herself on playing good defense and enjoys it, which is the exact kind of player we want in our program,” Wiseman said. “Ava Henson is another example. She has averaged 19 points per game and shooting 42 percent (from three) on the year. That offensive production has again helped keep us in games.”
Along with Henson, Fohl has been averaging 13 points per game, four assists, and four steals with four threes in her last five games. Both of these players have made huge strides for the team and themselves. Fohl spoke about the work she has put in during her first collegiate basketball season.
“Me and Coach Rachel (McLimore Taylor’s assistant coach) have implemented a pregame shooting drill that we do...it’s been really helpful and really paying off so that way in the game I’m game speed and ready to shoot,” Fohl said.
The team has also taken the rough season thus far as a way to improve morale in the locker room. Fohl spoke about the team wanting to win and growing eager to work and turn the losses into wins.
Taylor’s goal is to make the Crossroads League Tournament. The Trojans have a hard road ahead of them, sitting tenth in the conference.
“Once you make the conference tournament,” Wiseman said, “anything can happen.”
Hoping to grow into a team that can compete in the conference moving forward, Taylor is staying optimistic with No. 2 IWU, Goshen, Huntington and Bethel coming up.
