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Women's Hoops Preview

11/13/02
by John C. Thomas
The 2001-2002 Loyola women's basketball team broke a decade-plus losing streak by finishing with a 15-14 record last season. The coaching staff and the team gained a lot of respect from Horizon League peers, as evidenced by their predicted third-place finish in the HL preseason poll. But some key losses and struggles in exhibitions make a middle of the pack finish seem more likely.

Loyola lost starters Lauren Sirus and Beth Dilling to graduation. Their starting spots are expected to be filled by Sarah Hamilton and Jenitria Harden, who will provide additional height (in the case of Hamilton) and speed (in the case of Harden). Loyola also added some impressive talent in the persons of Mandy Mennella (5'7" guard from Hoffman Estates, IL) and Sarah Waltz (5'10" forward from Indianapolis). The scenario looks good on paper, but it ignores the question of leadership.

Dilling and Sirus combined for 26% of Loyola's points and 25% of Loyola's rebounds last year. Moreover, they had been at Loyola through the hardest of hard times (two seasons of fewer than three wins), and had learned hard lessons about what it takes to win. In last year's winning season, the first for the Loyola women's team since the Reagan administration, it was unimaginable to have both Dilling and Sirus out of the game at the same time. After the first two exhibition games of the year, it's obvious that many of Sirus and Dilling's most important stats didn't show up in the box score.

Loyola fought to the very end of the game to beat the Odyssey team in the first exhibition by only four points, 76-72. And the Ramblers were blown out of the second exhibition, 75-58, against the Chicago Challengers. In both games, the Ramblers were outmatched in terms of leadership, outside shooting, and rebounding.

Loyola has some great talent on paper. This year's team is the quickest and fastest that I've ever seen. Ciara Henderson is an unbelievable three-point shooter in practice. Sarah Hamilton is much more mobile and has a much better jump shot that Lauren Sirus (but not as much toughness or post moves). First woman off the bench Meskhenet Lands has poise, quickness, and athleticism to burn.

Maybe the most frustrating Rambler is 5'8" senior captain Tracy Hoffmann. She is the senior two-guard and leading returning scorer with a better-than-average three point shot. She also plays tough defense, and has a will to win that never lets her give up in a game no matter the score. But she has not taken control of the court leadership role that Sirus played so well, and her talents are not being used wisely. She continuously drives the lane for lay-ups against much taller players, but she has not developed the technique to draw a foul. She would be better utilized on the outside as a shooting option or ball distributor.

Meanwhile, 6'1" Maggie Toczylowski is playing the perimeter. She has to mix it up a bit in the paint because she is often the tallest player in the game when Hamilton is taking a breather. She has good hands, and she was Loyola's second-best rebounder last year, but she has often been found 12-18 feet away from the basket when the missed shots hit the rim in the first two exhibitions. Although she's only a junior, her personality seems more suitable to a leadership role than Hoffmann's-but like Hoffmann, when the ball is shot she's in the position where Hoffmann should be.

Another interesting aspect is that this team seems to be the kind of team (as currently arranged) that would be a close second to the top four teams in the league in every category. There is no one field-shooting, three-pointers, free-throws, rebounding, steals, blocks, assists, etc.-in which the Loyola team could be expected to lead the league. Such a team could still compete in the high ranks, but there appears to be four teams ahead of Loyola in every particular area.

In summary, the question of leadership on this team is crucial. Last year's team was the most successful in 13 years, but it suffered through a five-game losing streak immediately followed by a six-game winning streak that was immediately followed by another five-game losing streak. Strong senior leadership is the key to keeping the momentum consistently on the positive side. I don't see this year's team as being any better. Someone with the right personality has to step forward and take charge-it can't be left to seniority or the coach's decision alone.

JCT's prediction: 12 wins, fifth place in conference