The Muhlenberg women’s basketball team is closing out the latter half of their conference schedule. Over this past week, the Mules played four games, coming away victorious in two of them coming away with wins against the Haverford Fords and the Washington College Shorewomen.
The Mules are looking to end the year strong in their final two matchups as they take on Ursinus and Franklin & Marshall. The ladies currently sit in fifth place within the Centennial Conference with a 11-7 record, just ahead of Dickinson who are 9-9. In order to clinch a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs, the Mules need close out the year with wins.
In order to be the best team the Mules are capable of being, they need to improve upon the weaknesses that have hurt them thus far. When asked about the team’s current weaknesses, guard Sara Dilly ‘19 and guard, Emily O’Mahoney ‘20 had a lot to say. They said that their issues stem from a combination of not coming out of the locker room with consistent energy, and lack of rebounding on the offensive glass. This has been an issue that has plagued the Mules for a majority of the season, which has ultimately led to unfortunate losses in particular games.
If the Mules plan on making a run in the Centennial Conference playoffs, they need to improve upon the mistakes they have made throughout the season.
“The team has been working very hard and has been learning from the mistakes they made in the past. If they can take what they’ve learned and put it together at the right time, there is a good chance they will make a run,” said O’Mahoney.
Dilly also added that the team will be more prepared once they enter the playoff race. “We’ll make a run in the playoffs because any team we play will be our third time and we’ll be better prepared to handle them defensively and execute our offensive plays smarter.”
O’Mahoney ’20 looks to make a play against McDaniel. Photo Courtesy of Muhlenberg Athletics
Another reason for the Mules to be confident going into the playoffs is because of their unity and chemistry. They work hard on the court and care about making each other better. “Our team chemistry is our biggest strength. We get along on and off the court really well and that allows us to keep a positive team attitude even if things may not be going our way,” said Dilly. This is a very important quality to have as it allows the squad to maintain their composure when things are not necessarily going the way they want them to. Dilly added that another strong suit of the Mules is their understanding of their offensive and defensive plays. It is a rare sight when any player seems lost at any point throughout a play.
This Muhlenberg women’s basketball squad is one that could be very interesting to watch come the postseason. Despite being in the middle of the pack in the latter half of the season, this is a team that could be a real dangerous opponent for any of the Centennial Conference teams. If they are able to correct their minor weaknesses and build on their strengths, there is no goal that this team cannot achieve.
