Fredonia State Women's Basketball Head Coach Sarah Cartmill has reasons to be optimistic about the 2021-22 campaign.
First of all, the return to live game action has been a long time coming because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Right before the first practice (on Oct. 15), I was still thinking in the back of my mind, 'is this really gonna happen?'" Cartmill recalled. "So there was this mix of giddy excitement and nerves because I haven't prepared for a practice in how many days? We were anxious to get out there, so there were a lot of different emotions."
Another reason for optimism from the fourth-year head coach is she has the best of both worlds when it comes to the Blue Devils roster.
On one hand, Cartmill has the energy and youthful exuberance from two-thirds of a roster that - until October 15 - had never been in a real college basketball practice. Ten of the 15 players on Fredonia State's roster are first-year players or sophomores who didn't play last year because the season was canceled.
"Their heads were spinning a little bit trying to figure out what it takes to be in a practice everyday," said Cartmill. "But they've been getting after it, they've been competing, they've been pushing each other. This group has really embraced being out there together. They're working hard and getting better everyday and that's all I can ask for."
While she has an energetic group of younger players, Cartmill and longtime Assistant Coach Rich Norton also have the benefit of something not all teams in the SUNYAC conference will have this season; experienced returners. Four seniors on this team combined to average almost 27 points per game in the last full season of play (2019-20), and that includes three of the team's top four rebounders.
"Returning our top three post players is a huge anchor for us and something I don't have a question mark about as far as those girls coming back and knowing what it takes," said Cartmill. "That whole senior class has really embraced this team as theirs and it has really pushed the underclassman and they have been a great asset to us as coaches as far as the leadership they bring in and out of practice."
Katie Pitcher (Fulton) led the 2019-20 squad in points per game (11.4) and rebounds per game (6.4). "Katie plays at a consistent high level for us," Cartmill said. "She is going to be a scorer and play strong defense. The rest of the conference will recognize Katie as someone they need to pay attention to. We will look to her again to lead on both ends of the court."
Lauren Mickley (Danville, Ohio), a third-year starter, is described by Cartmill as one of the hardest workers on the team. "She always does things the right way and she demands that from her teammates, and that's something we really lean on," Cartmill said. "Her presence, energy, and work ethic makes us a better team."
Morgan Davis (Allegany) also provides the Blue Devils opportunities for points down low. "She can shoot over a lot of people," said Cartmill. "Morgan knows how to score, and has also been a consistent leader up and down the bench."
"Katie Smith (Red Creek) is an integral part of our leadership core because she also holds people accountable," said Cartmill. "Katie does things the right way and leads by example. She brings energy to every single drill in practice."
That energy will be utilized by the style of play Coach Cartmill expects from her team. "We want to get up and down the court as fast as we can, and play an up-tempo game," she said. "With our size, we want to get the ball inside, because it will be difficult for a lot of opponents to match our size across the board. Then as our younger guards get settled in and develop, our game plan may shift the more we learn what we can get from them on a daily basis."
Cartmill said the youth movement and the senior leadership has gelled well in the first two weeks of practice. "This group has done a really nice job in practice of making the extra pass and sharing the ball with each other," Cartmill said. "That's been fun to coach. They really do play for each other which is nice."
"When people leave Dods Hall after a game, I want them to say 'that team plays hard and they play for each other.'"
Fans will have their first chance to watch the Blue Devils play hard when they host Hilbert on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m., in Dods Hall.
