Ivy League Sports

By Laura Drazdowski, Columbia University

With new head coach Paul Nixon at the helm, Columbia women’s basketball is ready to start a new era. The team is embodying this season’s motto, “From the Jump” and has started to bond together.

“As a team, we are not very concerned with numbers and quantifying goals as we are really developing an identity of this team,” says Nixon. “With so many new players and coaches it is very important to us to establish what Columbia women’s basketball is going to be all about.”

With six seniors graduating last year and a young team to mold, coach Nixon will turn to the lone returning starter, junior Megan Griffith, to get the team ready for the 2005-06 season.

According to Nixon, “Megan is a great vocal leader both on and off the court and has made such an effort to make not only herself better, but her teammates better as well.” With Nixon as her fourth head coach over the past two seasons, Griffith has been asked once again to learn and lead a new offensive system. “I think the offensive scheme that we are implementing really suits her strengths,” says Nixon. “We are trying to maximize her assets as a player.”

Also returning to the team is senior center Sarah Beato. After taking the 2004-05 season off, Beato has returned in great shape and will be a commanding presence under the basket. An excellent shot blocker, she led the team in that category in 2003-04 and Nixon expects her to be a threat on offense.

“I really want Sarah to have the opportunity to get a lot of touches on the offensive end,” Nixon says. “She can score inside and outside and I think she is one of our strongest rebounders.”

The team has five other returning players who have seen limited playing time in the past but will be expected to contribute significantly more this season. Junior guard Brooke Carey saw time in 21 games last season and Nixon will use her both at the point and shooting guard positions.

Fellow sophomore guard Shasta Henderson, who played in 22 games, was used to help the team on defense and will see a similar role this season.

“Shasta is going to be pressuring the ball; she will be utilizing her strengths as an athlete and a defender to be the point person for our defense when she is on the court. I really expect her to be a defensive stopper for us this season, “ says Nixon.

The team has three sophomores returning: Brittney Carfora, Michele Gage and Cate Taylor. Carfora will switch to forward after spending last season as a guard. She will see time at both the three and four and is adapting well.

Gage is the most experienced of the returning sophomores, seeing time in 22 games, starting three of them. One of the team’s most talented offensive players, she will contribute significantly at small forward.

“Michele can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court, she can drive to the basket and she plays big enough to grab rebounds,” commented Nixon.

Taylor saw limited time last season and did not play towards the end due to a knee injury. Still recovering, she has had limited practice time.

The team welcomes six newcomers, led by junior transfer Becky Hogue. Hogue was the 2002 Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year, helped Loyola Marymount to a conference title and NCAA berth in her only season there, then starred at Fullerton Junior College last season. She is a very strong power forward and, like Griffith, had a number of different head coaches over the last two seasons.

The Lions’ schedule focuses on preseason tournaments and a good mixture of home and away non-conference games before the Ivy season gets underway.

According to Nixon, “the schedule is reflective of the experience level of our team. There are some games on the schedule that are going to challenge and test us early.”

For the new coach, it is the Ivy season he is most looking forward to.

“I have such great respect for the Ivy League, the tradition that it stands for,” says Nixon. “I have respect for the commitment that the coaches have made to their institutions. When I look at my time in the Ivy League, I feel that my peers represent the very best of my profession and it makes me very proud to be associated with them.”

For coach Nixon and his Lions, they are ready to begin a new era and they are ready to do it right from the jump.

“We are going to play hard, play tough, solid defense and be a team that is known for executing on offense and getting up and down the floor,” concludes Nixon. “When we go out on the floor, we want to be a team that people respect because they know that we are going to compete.”