The women’s basketball team has its smallest roster in years, with six new players and two returning players.
“Everyone that we have right now is what we need,” Head Coach Bo Overton said. “We have eight good players and that’s really all we need. We’ll be just fine. We’re not going to make any excuses for having only eight players or for having new coaches.”
It is Overton’s first season as head coach after the departure of Latricia Trammell, who left to serve as an assistant coach at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Even though the roster is smaller than usual, only five players are needed on the court at a time.
“Having only eight players makes it more of a challenge,” Junior Guard Leah Cheney said. “My previous coach I played for always said ‘it doesn’t really matter how many players we have or how good they are, it’s who has the biggest heart and who’s going to give it everything they have.’”
Senior forwards Catherine Kruschke and Markeisha Johnson are the only returning players and the only seniors on the team.
“Our returning players have a lot of experience,” Overton said. “They’ve been a big help to me, showing me how to get around campus. We’re really counting on them a lot. I like the way they lead the team.
“This is a program that’s won the national championship the last two years. This program and this school is used to high standards, and we’ll continue to stay on that path.”
Typically you want about 12 players on a team to be able to practice more and allow players to rest, Overton said.
“The main thing we’re doing right now is getting the players we have ready to play, and I believe we’ll be just fine,” Overton said.
For more information on the women’s basketball team or if you are interested in joining, email Overton at boverton@okcu.edu.
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