By MACY SHREFFLER
Student Reporter
NWOSU women’s basketball team is gearing up for the upcoming season, with plans of traveling to Hawaii on Nov. 22 for games against Chaminade University and Stanislaus State.
The women’s basketball team has been in preseason so far this fall, working hard to build good team chemistry off the court while also strengthening the players ability on the court. With much hard work the players feel confident in the season ahead.
Summya Adigun, a freshman from Hugoton, Kansas, and Camille Thomas, a junior from Carrollton, Texas, are both members of this year’s women’s basketball team, and they had a lot of positive things to say about this year’s pre-season.
Adigun came in as a freshman this year with no idea what the atmosphere of pre-season would look like, but said she was pleasantly surprised.
“This is my first year here at Northwestern, so it’s all been new to me, but overall, it’s been really good.”
With lots of conditioning and team bonding, she said she sees this team going far this season.
Being the only freshman on the team, Adigun said the team has been helpful in her transition to the college level.
“I am new, and this is my first time playing at the college level so it’s a shift of dynamic for sure, but overall it’s been a really good experience.” Adigun said. “My teammates have been so helpful, and I’m grateful for them.”
While Adigun comes into a new team and is experiencing this all with fresh eyes, Thomas is a junior with a few more years of experience. She said this has been the most exciting year yet, and the girls have brought a lot of intensity and energy to the program. The advantages NWOSU will have this year include experience. Many players on the team have played in the college spotlight, and it has made it much easier for the team to adjust.
“We want to start defense, and a lot of us already know that defense, so we don’t have to spend too much time teaching things,” Thomas said.
The women are coached by Tasha Diesselhorst, and assisted by Kinsey Neiderer and Randy Turney. Both Adigun and Thomas said they appreciate that they are approachable and make everyone on the team feel comfortable, while still coaching with intensity and accountability.
“She expects a lot of us,” Thomas said of Diesselhorst.
Not only does the head coach expect discipline and culture on the team, but Thomas said she really encourages everyone on the team to step beyond their comfort zones, and for everyone to seek some sort of leadership role on the court.
But most of all, Adigun and Thomas said team bonding and the dynamic on the team is the No. 1 priority for the coaching staff, who believe these ideals will propel them through the season ahead.
On another note, the NWOSU team will be traveling to Honolulu on Nov. 22 to compete against Chaminade University and Stanislaus State on Nov. 24-25.
