Ask any team in any sport, they will all say the same thing — losing sucks. So when the Binghamton women’s basketball team headed home early in last year’s America East Conference Tournament after falling to Vermont, it was quite a letdown.
“We had made a great deal of improvement during the second half of the season and it was tough to not have that show in the conference tournament,” said Rich Conover, in his third full season as head coach.
After four losses in a row, the team rattled off six straight wins towards the tail end of the season. The improvements could have been a result of the team learning how to play together. After all, impact players like Laura Sario, Laine Kurpniece and Nicole Lobach (who transferred to Messiah College) were all freshman.
“Last year when we started playing we were so young and we didn’t know each other so well,” said Sario, who is already seeing a difference this season. “I feel like I’m much more ready to go this year and I know everybody, it’s just easier.”
While Lobach transferred, the Bearcats have a legitimate replacement in junior Shea Kenny, a transferor herself from St. Louis University who sat out last season in accordance with transfer rules.
“Shea Kenny may have the most immediate impact (of the newest members) because of the position she plays,” Conover said of his new starting point guard.
The Bearcats added some size with their new recruiting class, which serves more than one purpose. Freshmen Laura Franceski (6-2), Erin Owens (6-2) and Lauren Regan (6-0) will not only increase the depth on the front line, but will allow senior Rachel Laws to move to the three spot — a more comfortable position for the team’s leading scorer.
“I think everyone is more confident in my play at the three spot,” said Laws, who is approaching 1,000 career points (she’s currently eighth all-time with 980). “Everyone is definitely playing in the positions they were meant to play.”
Conover certainly thinks the switch will create tougher matchups for opponents.
“She is a very tough matchup for other guards in the league because of her strength and athleticism,” he said. “Last year she took a beating physically, matching up all year with bigger, stronger posts. Also, moving Rachel to the perimeter allows us to put Laine Kurpniece into the post position.”
Kurpniece, who averaged 6.4 points per game, came on strong the latter half of this past season and will be expected to provide low post scoring for the Bearcats.
“I think that all last year, it took time for me to get used to the playing style,” said Kurpniece, who is still acclimating to not just the American style of basketball, but America in general. “At the beginning I wasn’t playing much and at the end I had some minutes and good games.”
With an added year of experience under their belt, the Bearcats have high expectations. Still, they were tied for fifth with Stony Brook out of the nine teams in the America East preseason coaches’ poll.
“The biggest concern I have about this year’s team is getting them to understand, as a whole, how much they are capable of achieving,” said Conover, who has hopes of finally winning a playoff game with Binghamton. “I think if they all recognize what a special team this can be, we have a very bright future.”