(-- The Beacon)
By Jason Hortsch Staff Writer hortsch12@up.edu
After posting 19 points in the women's basketball season opener, senior Natalie Day followed up one stellar performance with another, scoring 25 in the Pilots' second game and earning WCC player of the week. The senior guard/forward shares her thoughts about the women's basketball team and its upcoming season with The Beacon.
What are you looking forward to most this upcoming season?
I'm hoping that we can pull together and become the team we have the potential to be, win the conference title and go to the tournament.
How do you think the team will do?
I think we definitely have the dreaded "P" word: potential. And as long as we stick together and work hard, it'll all come together in the end.
What are your thoughts on your team's first two games?
We definitely have to work on our transitions and our offense. We've definitely grown from these two games this past weekend. We just need to carry it with us when we travel to Hawai'i for a tournament.
What will you miss most when you graduate?
I'll miss Portland and how eccentric and eco-friendly it is, as well as the shopping here because it's a lot different from the East Coast. Also, I'll miss my teammates that'll be scattered across the country after graduation. Of the three seniors, we're from Seattle, Texas and D.C. We'll all be in three different corners of the U.S.
When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing basketball in ninth grade of high school, but that was just junior varsity. I didn't start playing too competitively until sophomore year of high school, when I played AAU and was on the varsity team.
What was your most memorable moment as a basketball player?
There was a high school game where we won at the buzzer and the crowd flooded the floor. College-wise, maybe when we beat Pepperdine in double overtime.
What is something that the casual fan does not realize about D1 basketball?
I don't think they realize the work we put in and not just on game day. We're usually up before anyone else in the morning and we're usually not finished with our day until eight at night. Basketball normally takes five to six hours a day. We have three hours a day of practice, one and a half to two hours of weightlifting and then treatment for about an hour. That's why we appreciate it if you come to the games.
What are your predictions for college hoops this season?
I think the women's tournament this year is up in the air, where someone like Texas A&M last year could win. I think a lot of the top schools will become underdogs. I think this will carry over with the men's tournament as well, but mostly on the women's side.
What is your preferred basketball shoe?
I used to be a religious Adidas wearer, but now in college Nike has supplied us. The LeBrons have grown on me, but I like the look of the Hyperdunks.
(-- The Beacon)
