Turnaround has Minutewomen fans cheering

By Bart K. Feller, special to the Chronicle

Sophomore Monique Govan brings the ball down the court for the Minutewomen during their Dec. 11 win over undefeated Villanova. (Sarah Buchholz photo)

hat a difference a year makes. At the end of the fall semester in 2001, the women's basketball team had won one game and lost eight, this year they are 8 and 1, riding a six-game winning streak and showing no signs of slowing down. Last week the Minutewomen beat three teams; Atlantic 10 conference opponent Rhode Island in Kingston 59-45 on Monday, previously undefeated Villanova 55-50 on Wednesday in the first game at the Curry Hicks Cage since 1995, and Northeastern 77-61 at the Mullins Center on Saturday.

     They are not only winning, but winning against tough teams. They held the No. 1 position in the national Ratings Performance Index, which measures a team's strength of schedule, as well as its win-loss record. At press time the Minutewomen were in the No. 2 spot on the RPI.

     They are off to their best start since the team's first year, 1967-68, when they opened 9-0 playing mostly against local state and community colleges. Last year the Minutewomen averaged 59 percent free throw shooting and more than 20 turnovers per game. This year the free throw percentage is up to 68, and turnovers down to 16. Senior Nekole Smith, who scored 51 points and grabbed 17 rebounds last week improved her free throw shooting the most, upping her average by over 20 percent to .743 so far this year.

     New head coach Marnie Dacko's up-tempo offense has produced immediate results in the scoring column. While last season saw the Minutewomen score more than 70 points in only three of their 30 games, already this year the team has produced at least 70 points in five outings. Traditionally the Minutewomen have played tough defense and out-rebounded their opponents, but offensive success has been a missing ingredient. Dacko said so far her team is doing well.

     These kids play with a lot of heart, a lot of determination, a lot of fight," she said. "They are coming together as one; they enjoy playing together; they're working hard, and they're doing everything I ask them to do." But she cautions that it's still early in the season: "I think we have a lot of work to do; I want these kids to strive for the top."

     Senior center Jennifer Butler echoed her coach's feelings about not getting too excited too soon.

Seniors Jennifer Butler (left) and Ebony Pegues have been key to the 8-1 start by the Minutewomen. (Sarah Buchholz photo)

     No slouch last year, when she led the team in scoring, rebounds, steals and blocks, Butler has taken her game up a level this season. She has increased her scoring and as of Dec. 9 was the fifth best rebounder in the nation with an average of 12.7 per game.

     Monday she was named Atlantic 10 player of the week on the strength of her 60 points and 43 rebounds, which increased her average to 13.4 per game.

     She played her finest game ever Saturday, scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. She finished with a career-high 30 points and 20 rebounds, her 48th career double-double, as the Minutewomen spoiled the homecoming for Northeastern's Francesca Vanin of Amherst and Melissa Kowalski of Wilbraham.

     Pegues had a great week also, totaling 31 points, 16 rebounds and 20 assists. She was a key for the win against Villanova, scoring 14 points in nine minutes in the second half as UMass came from behind to build a seven point lead, which helped them weather the storm when the Wildcat sharpshooters started hitting three-pointers late in the game.

     "This year it's a whole new team," Butler said. "It's a team with heart, and I think everybody can see that."