TRU Women’s Basketball team gives us hope this year by equaling last season’s victory count fast this year. The fresh team with 10 new players surprised fans by winning 2 out of 3 pre-season tournament games hosted in Kamloops and upsetting Brandon Bobcats twice at their home ground. After 8 games, the team is 2W-6L, and there are 12 more games left to prove that the team is worth the playoffs.
“The new roster certainly impacts the tactics and strategy of the team. Although we are much shorter than last year, we are still attempting to maximize our strengths and run up other teams”, – Danijela. From her point of view, “having first-year players bring big opportunities as well as challenges”. Moreover, Kovacevic mentioned that “…many players have a strong work ethic, and many rookies have stepped up and taken on important responsibilities”. It all emphasizes the beginning of a new chapter of the TRU Women’s basketball team.
Looking back over the shoulder into the previous season, TRU Women’s basketball was sitting at 2W-18L in the end of the season. The team was restructuring, it looked messy from the sideline. The team had 3 different coaches in the pre-season, the first and second parts of the season. Goran Nogic was preparing a team for the season, then Ken Olynyk got the team in the first part of the season, and, finally, Todd Warnick started working with a team in the end.
Diving into the statistics component, the 2022-23 team had -30.9 scoring margin, meaning they lost by an average of 30 scoring 1035 against 1714 points in 23 games (pre-season included). Average 26 turnovers per game plus -17.1 rebound margin highlighted the problems on both attacking and defensive edges. The best performer last season was Megan Rouault scoring 8.5 points on average and trying to motivate the group.
Taking into consideration the last years’ numbers, this year TRU got a completely fresh team with fresh expectations. After 8 games, the numbers give us a reason to believe in a positive change. The score margin is -9.6, and the rebounding got a little better, going down to -9.8 margin. The team’s most experienced players Danijela Kovacevic and Kelsey Cruz score a bit over 10 points per game on average making a team’s average almost 60 points per game. “The coaches’ and teammates’ trust has given me a lot more room to finish and score more baskets”,- says the third-year point guard Danijela Kovacevic (#7).
As a representative of rookies, Grace Hansen (#12) shared that the team “…already forged strong connections and genuinely support each other both on and off the court”. Hansen’s goal for the season is “to be an Academic All-Canadian, and to improve skills and basketball IQ”. As stats show, Grace has the most steals (19) after 8 games. She commented on her ability to intercept the ball: “It’s primarily about anticipation and hustling to create space… my strength as a player lies in reading the defense and predicting their movements”. Hansen added that “[in Kamloops] the sense of community is tight-knit, and it’s heartening to be surrounded by such wonderful individuals who make every effort to ensure that everyone has the tools to succeed”.
Todd Warnick and Cassie Rerick took over the team mid-season last year. It was too late to fight for any kind of results, so they decided to dive into the rebuilding process. After hiring new players, they focus on long-term development. “Todd and Cassie emphasize the significance of each game as a stepping stone in our development, highlighting the need for resilience and growth on this journey. While they place importance on qualifying for this year’s playoffs, they also have a broader vision for future seasons”, – says Grace Hansen. Danijela Kovacevic, who was coached by Goran Nogic and Ken Olynyk previously, mentions: “I’m sure Todd and Cassie with stick around and lead our group to long-term success. Their ability to coach and lead has already paid off, fostering a motivated and cohesive team atmosphere”.
Despite the 2-6 start of this season, players believe in the team’s success. “…given how young the league is this year and how numerous teams have dramatically changed, there’s a chance we might surprise a few opponents and even challenge for a postseason spot”, – says Danijela Kovacevic. The biggest question is: Will the rookies adapt that fast to start surprising opponents this season? Grace Hanses says: “This season is viewed as a crucial period for learning and improvement as we experience what it takes to compete at the next level”.
Overall, the future looks bright for Todd Warnick’s group of hard-working rock stars. Will they deliver? The time will show. Grace and Danijela agreed that the team will be confident and strong and eventually emerge as a dominant force in the years to come. Developments take time, and Wolfpack has lots of it now to test things out.
What else looks bright? The smiles of the women’s squad, especially if it’s a victory-caused smile. Answering the last interview question, the rookie Grace Hanses mentioned that Kelsey Cruz, Priyance Sundher, and Danijela Kovacevic have the most infectious smiles that can “light up a room”. As a local news provider, we wish the girls to smile and laugh more, and light up courts and stadiums in upcoming games. The next battles will happen next semester, on January 5 and 6, at the Tournament Capital Centre. Come cheer for your local team and watch the new team evolving.
By Artem Zhurakovskii
