Women’s Basketball Prepares for Upcoming Season

Halie Murphy, Staff Writer|November 5, 2020

The long-awaited basketball season is approaching quickly. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams are set to have a 2020-21 campaign beginning near the end of November.

On Sept. 16, the NCAA Division I Council approved a start date of Nov. 25 for both men’s and women’s basketball.

The decision to start at the end of November was designed for “when at least three-quarters of Division I institutions will have either concluded their fall terms or moved remaining instruction and exams online, creating a more controlled and less populated campus environment that may reduce the risk of COVID-19,” according to the NCAA.

All of the players are excited to start the new journey, while dealing with the adversity and challenges of the Coronavirus.

“The challenges Coronavirus brings to the season are something that we, together, have to work through,” said sophomore Katie Detwiller. “We have to make every moment count because we don’t know how many moments we will get.”

The NCAA will allow teams to play 23 regular-season games and up to four additional games in one multi-team event. Exhibitions and scrimmages before Nov. 25 are not permitted.

For the Red Flash women’s team, expectations are high in 2020-21. The team welcomes seven incoming freshmen to the roster this season.

“I’m excited,” said senior Haley Thomas. “I think we have a nice mix of upperclassmen and freshmen. The team is full of people who want to learn, work hard, and get better every day. It’s really exciting to see for my senior year, and I’m hopeful for a great season.”