Preseason Preview: Women's Basketball
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - Finger Lakes Community College women's basketball returns for the 2022-23' season after a lengthy offseason of preparation. Head coach Michael Broderick kicks off his second season as coach of the women's program and the Lakers, who a year ago struggled with numbers, now boast a roster of 14.
Of that 14, two starters from the 2021-22' season will return to the Lakers, including Hayley Andersen (Penn Yan, N.Y./ Penn Yan) and Ericka Moody (Lyons, N.Y./ Lyons). Andersen and Moody bring experience playing in NJCAA Region III, a valuable resource for the Lakers 8 incoming freshman. For head coach Michael Broderick, that experience is crucial to the team's offseason preparation, "Hayley and Ericka have had a tremendous impact on our freshman as they understand what is needed to compete in Region III".
Heading into year 2, Broderick expressed his expectations for this year's squad, "Our goal as a team is to compete in every game on our schedule. There are many talented teams on the schedule that we will need to step up our game to be competitive with", Broderick added, "the expectation for the team is to improve from practice to practice and from game to game...team chemistry has been a strength thus far; it is vital as we will only succeed as a team".
Much of the Laker's success will rely on the new faces to the program, including freshman...
Also, for the Lakers, sophomores...
Thus far, the team has emphasized the importance of team chemistry and smart decisions with the basketball, "we must value the basketball and get a good shot off each time we possess the basketball", Broderick explained, "rebounding, especially on the defensive end will determine if we can compete game in and game out".
The Lakers preparations this offense points to a strong comeback year from last season's struggles; a positive shift in the right direction. Part of that shift in the right direction included the hiring of assistant coaches Mason Storm and Hannah Morse. Storm, an alumnus of Honeoye High School, comes into the program with 6 years of experience as an assistant coach for the Penn Yan Mustangs, as well as experience as a student-athlete at Daemen College. Storm's experiences have brough him all the way to Germany where he served as a volunteer for a youth basketball clinic, assisting in the education of basic basketball fundamentals.
Hannah Morse joins the program after a storied high school and collegiate career. Morse was a New York State Class C women's basketball state champion for Watkins Glen High School. She would attend Corning Community College where she would break several records, including the assist record, with 20 in a game. Morse would then transfer to St. John Fisher University as a member of their women's basketball program before joining the Lakers in her first collegiate coaching experience.
With several changes for the better, expectations remain promising for the Lakers and a successful 2022-23' season. The Lakers kick off the year on the road at Monroe Community College on Wednesday, November 2nd at 5 PM.