Orangewomen Juiced This Year

After the Dec. 22 72-20 drubbing the Orangewomen laid upon Delaware State University, head coach and possibly the most dapperly dressed coach in college basketball Quentin Hillsman insinuated he believes that all the blowouts this season haven’t been because of competition against anemically talented teams, but rather that his team is, well, a team.

 

Record chaser: Senior guard Nicole “Slinky” Michael has the chance to be the all-time leading scorer and rebounder for the SU women’s basketball program. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

 

“I think that we’re playing very well,” said Hillsman after the Delaware State victory. “There are no weaker opponents when those teams are picked to maybe win their conferences. When you look at the Old Dominions and Butlers {teams the Orangewomen have also beaten this season}, those are some great programs and I chalk those wins up as that we are playing very well. I don’t chalk it up based on how the opponents are, sometimes you’re just playing pretty good and I look at it more as how we’re playing, not how they’re playing.”  

After the 52-point Delaware State blowout, the Orangewomen’s average margin of victory is 26.9, and while they’re playing exquisite team ball, the single biggest contributor has been the all-America play of senior forward Nicole “Slinky” Michael. A solid contributor across the board, Michael has averaged 17 points and eight rebounds this season and has ascended the SU women’s basketball record books enough that by season’s end, she has a legitimate shot at being the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Perhaps one of the reasons the team has made it a point to step up their play was a promise Hillsman made if the ladies weren’t on their best behavior. “We knew before the game that if we didn’t play well, we weren’t going to be going home for Christmas,” said Michael after that Delaware State win. “{Hillsman} has been doing that for about three years now and we didn’t want to be the team that couldn’t go home for Christmas so we’ve been trying to play very good.” 

What the coach has received has been possibly one of the best teams in school history, and Michael believes the team will continue their solid play regardless of the holiday. “We’re really confident with us getting along and playing together well,” she continued, “and at 10-0, we just want to keep winning.”       

       

The Orangewomen begin Big East play against Georgetown at the Carrier Dome, 900 Irving Ave., on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. Before that test, they have one more non-conference game against New Hampshire, also at the Dome, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m. Tickets cost $8/general admission; $4/youths and seniors.

The men’s Big East season gets started Saturday, Jan. 2, noon against Pittsburgh, also in the Carrier Dome, and continues Wednesday, Jan. 5, vs. Memphis at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20/general; $10/ages 12 and younger. For tickets, call (888) DOME-TIX.