“Positivity, Energy, and Competitiveness” are the words Head Coach Sheila Mahony used describing this year’s women’s basketball team.
Last year’s Golden Wolves basketball team went 4-21, but this year is different. Only losing one senior from last year, this team sees eight returners from last year team and adding seven freshman into the mix. Coach Mahony said “the younger ones are ready to step up.” This year, three sophomores will be stepping up for big roles. Julia Ewen, Gabriella Devito, and Dej’Hanee Mcneal. Coach Mahony had this to say about the trio: “Julia and Gab ended their freshman campaign on a strong note, and continuing that momentum going into this season. Dej has improved tremendously and has been huge since coming back.” With Julia aggressiveness to drive and hit the mid range jump shot, Gabbie three point show, and Dej is height down low, these three are going to be big factors of this team this year and years to follow.
One of the biggest additions to this team this year is Dr. Richard Alan Neff. Neff is a sports psychologist who has worked with NBA rookies and the Reading High School Boys team. In sports these days, there a lot of mental health issues going on so to have someone who is professional be there to help you is incredibly important. Being a college athlete with class, practice, and managing your life can be overwhelming for a player. Coach Mahony went as far as saying “he helped create the culture it is today.” Talking to some women’s basketball players, they really do seem to love working with him.
This is a different team than last year. This year the team really seems more committed to one another. After watching a few of their practices, the team seems to be having more fun, more energy, faster pace and enjoying the game of basketball. Having a spirited coach like Mahony, a young, energetic team will feed off that and hopefully make a run and surprise the MAC conference as one of the top teams this year. With eight returners and seven freshman, look for the Golden Wolves to have a deeper bench. In the first scrimmage this year, their bench had 48 points so look for that to be a key element of this team.
There is so much promise for this team. The future of Alvernia women’s basketball is very bright. If you would like to know when and where the games are for Alvernia Golden Wolves Women’s Basketball team, go to their website and click on schedule.
You won’t want to miss them.
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