Higher expectations than ever before for women’s basketball

Delaware women's basketball is set to begin what is likely to be a historic season tonight, as they begin their ‘09-10 campaign in Loretto, Pa. against St. Francis.  The  Hens have already made history, receiving a vote in the Preseason Top 25 for the first time in school history.

The team ended last year with a 7-11 CAA record and a 15-15 overall record 

Senior guard Corinthia Benison said the team's record from last year speaks for itself — they were average.  Women's head coach Tina Martin also said she thinks the team can improve their record from last season.  She said a lot of it has to do with players' chemistry and injuries obtained.

"I thought our freshmen and our sophomores got really good minutes and I think that's going to hold well for us this season because they were able to get some experience," Martin said.

Martin said even though the team only has two seniors, Benison and Farrah Ferguson, she thinks the fact that last season's freshmen and sophomores got a lot of playing time will help the team. 

"They know the system, plays, Coach Martin," Junior Tesia Harris said. "Before we had a young team."

Benison said the players' chemistry as a team has gotten better.  She also said because they are older now, they know more about what the game entails.

"We know what to expect in games," Benison said. "We know what intensity requires, how much effort has to be performed or what it takes to win games."

Harris wore a brace on her foot and said she only has to wear it while walking around.  She said she is still able to practice with the team, which has been practicing since Oct. 16.

According to Harris, the team benefits from Benison's maturity at point guard.  There are also two transfer students and four new freshmen on the team, which Harris said will be beneficial.

Elena Delle Donne's presence is sure to improve the Hens' play dramatically. Delle Donne was the top high school recruit in the nation in 2007-08 out of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., and planned on playing for reigning National Champion Connecticut before transferring back to Delaware. Martin said Delle Donne is very versatile.

"She can shoot the ball outside," Martin said of Delle Donne, who was the top recruit of 2008. "She's 6-5, so her size alone helps us from our inside perspective, and then her ball handling and her shooting abilities are really very good so that's going to help us just from the standpoint of having somebody who can score both inside and outside."

Martin said Delle Donne will start, but the starting line-up will come from the players' performance at practice. She said the team had two exhibition games that went pretty well and said the preparation for those games will determine which players will be the starters.

In regards to the other players, Martin said Danielle Parker, who started for the Hens last year, is coming off an ACL tear and will redshirt.  She said the rest of the "true" freshmen, such as Chelsea Craig, Lauren Carra and Jaquetta May, are all battling for playing time, and are going to have to beat out some of the older players to see that.

"The biggest thing is our players have worked really hard in the weight room and then they've also worked really hard on their skills this summer — that's when you improve most as a player is the summertime," Martin said. "So coming into the CAA our players understand that they have a role to play.  Really, now it's a matter of taking all the talents that we do have and putting them together."

Last year, the Hens lost nine games by less than five points.  Martin said she hopes this year the players will be able to make better decisions and execute better because they know what Martin is looking for.

Martin said one of the team's weak points was rebounding and their shooting percentages. 

"I think last year we had a good defense — I think we were ranked probably one of the top 18 in defense," Harris said. "So this year work on the offense."

Martin said defense was a solid point for the Hens last year, as Harris said, and expressed the need for the defense to remain consistent.  Like Harris, Martin noticed that offensive rebounding needs to improve.

In order to improve their record and season this year, Martin said the team needs to go farther in the CAA conference.  Benison agreed and said the team pushes each other at practice to get better. 

"It comes down to how hard we work," Benison said. "What you put in is what you get out, and we're definitely working hard to get better as a team."