The Butler women’s basketball team typically has a challenge recruiting top athletes in a state known for its hoops history.

But this year has been different.

In addition to incoming freshmen, coach Beth Couture recently attained two transfers, 6-foot-3 freshman forward Elizabeth Stratman (Xavier) and 6-0 junior forward Daress McClung (Cincinnati), each of whom has already begun to train with the Bulldogs.

“We had strongly recruited both of them,” Couture said. “We followed Daress through high school, and we were first to offer Liz a scholarship her freshman year.”

Stratman averaged 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a four-year starter at Heritage Christian in New Palestine. She also helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back state championships in 2008 and 2009 and received All-State honors her senior year.

Stratman

Stratman, whose father played football at Butler, participated in 12 games at Xavier this season, averaging 3.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest.

McClung, a Lawrence North graduate, averaged 14 points and nine rebounds per game during her junior season. In the same year, McClung was part of the state-winning Amateur Athletic Union Indiana Elite basketball team.

While at Cincinnati, McClung played in 26 games over two seasons. She averaged eight points per game in the team’s first four contests her sophomore year before missing the remainder of the season because of an ankle injury that required surgery.

In her only full season with the Bearcats, McClung started nine contests and averaged five points per game. She also recorded 22 steals and 17 blocks.

“[Daress and I] had played together since seventh grade,” Butler junior forward Liz Jennings said. “I know what she’s capable of, and that experience with a Big East team will bring a spark.

“She’s been doing well in practice and is already helping us improve each day.”

Jennings had positive things to say about Stratman as well.

“Liz came from a really good program at Heritage Christian,” Jennings said. “Her fundamentals alone will be a huge asset, and her knowledge of the game will definitely help us get to the next level.”

Through their own selection processes, McClung and Stratman chose Cincinnati and Xavier, respectively, only to end up back in Indianapolis.

“Daress had a commitment to go to Cincinnati,” Couture said, “but we had a relationship already with her, and she decided she wanted to come to Butler.”

McClung

Stratman was in the same position but changed her mind on where she wanted to be after one semester at Xavier.

“We were fortunate,” Couture said. “They just kind of ended up on our doorstep.”

McClung and Stratman won’t be able to play until next year due to NCAA compliance rules.

“I understand the rules, but it is frustrating,” Jennings said. “The good thing is that, since Liz transferred halfway through the school year, she’ll be eligible right before conference [play].”

Despite having to wait, Couture is optimistic about the transfers’ potential effect on the team.

“They will definitely help us,” Couture said. “They’re both such strong post players, and they’ve played against great competition.”

The Butler women’s basketball team ended the week on a high note after beating Milwaukee (6-13, 2-7) 76-63 at home on Saturday.

According to Butler coach Beth Couture, working hard for rebounds and assists was crucial for the Bulldogs (8-12, 4-5).

Butler ended the game with 40 rebounds to Milwaukee’s 19.

“I think we were aggressive,” Couture said. “I was really pleased with their fight. At halftime I told them we really have to pick up the defense, and I think that was the difference.”

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm had her best outing of the season, posting a career-high 30 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Photo by Taylor Cox

After the Panthers cut their deficit to one point with 7:04 remaining, Hamm scored two quick field goals to give Butler momentum and a 63-58 lead.

Hamm attributed her success on the floor to her teammates, including junior forward Becca Bornhorst, who had 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and sophomore guard Jenna Cobb, who also posted a career-high 16 points with six assists.

“I think we have to play hard to get out of those kinds of situations,” Hamm said. “I think what really helps me are the playmakers who make things happen and get me points.”

Couture said she also recognized Bornhorst’s positive impact on the game.

“[Bornhorst] having six [defensive rebounds] and four [offensive rebounds] is what we need her to do,” Couture said. “Her 10 points were great, but at the end of the day we really need her rebounds, so I thought she was really good.”

Bornhorst said she tried to find a good formula to help her make good plays for her team.

“I just let the game come to me, and I finally found a rhythm and just played relaxed,” Bornhorst said. “Our team played well all around, and we executed offensively and hit shots.”

The game served as a stark contrast to the team’s 60-36 home loss to No. 9 Green Bay on Thursday.

Despite losing the contest, the Bulldogs kept the Phoenix (19-0, 9-0) to their lowest score of the season. Their previous low was 65 points against Wisconsin.

“I thought in the first five minutes we played really good defense but could not score,” Couture said.

After being down 42-13 at halftime, the Bulldogs attempted to make a comeback in the second half, outscoring the Phoenix 23-18. It bore resemblance to Butler’s 60-57 comeback win over Loyola of Chicago on Jan. 21 but ultimately had a different result.

“We just got back to the gameplan [in the second half],” Couture said. “When you play the No. 9 team in the country, and they play like that, it is hard to make a comeback.”

The Bulldogs will start a two-game road swing tomorrow night at Cleveland State before heading to Youngstown State on Saturday.

Freshmen on the Butler women’s basketball team had big shoes to fill after losing five players to graduation last year.

Freshman forward Haley Howard was one of those faced with the task.

“I kind of just went in there with as much confidence as I could as an 18-year-old freshman and just played,” Howard said.

Howard has had an immediate impact on the team, starting 13 of 18 games this season for the Bulldogs and averaging 9.4 points per game while playing nearly 22 minutes per contest.

Howard has also had success in an area her male counterparts at Butler have struggled with.

While the men’s team is shooting 62.0 percent from the charity stripe through 21 games, Howard is shooting 94.9 percent from the free throw line through 18 games.

“I shoot a lot of free throws after practice,” Howard said. “It’s something coach always says is very controllable, and I completely agree, so I’ve always tried to focus on making them, especially since they’re free.”

While it can be daunting to start so many games as a freshman, Howard enjoys the excitement that comes with the duty.

“It was hard to get used to it,” she said. “It’s tough, but it makes you feel the hype of getting to start out the game.”

Coach Beth Couture said she first saw Howard had the potential to start regularly when the team started practice in October.

“About one to two weeks in, we saw her skill set could help us with the scoring we lost from the year before,” Couture said.

With the absence of the team’s three leading scorers from last season, Howard said she realized that she and the other freshmen players needed to step up in the positions they were assigned.

“I feel they were roles we were thrown into rather than earned,” Howard said.

Couture said it is difficult to be put in the starting lineup on a regular basis as a freshman.

“It’s really tough for a freshman to step in and do as well as she did early, especially with a young team,” Couture said. “I think it can be hard to handle sometimes.”

Howard said her veteran teammates told her to take advantage of the time she spends on the floor.

“For the amount of time you’re in, you’re just busting your butt all the time, 24/7,” Howard said. “They told me you have absolutely nothing to lose. The weird thing is that they told me individually and not even as a group.”

Senior guard Devin Brierly said that Howard has what is necessary for a freshman to make an early impact.

“I think a freshman playing a significant role on the team is great if they are ready to rise to the occasion when need be and have a hard work ethic,” Brierly said. “Haley is an extremely talented young lady and can do some damage to other teams with her talent and skill.”

Howard said there simply is no comparison between playing in college and playing in high school.

“There are things you learn you never even thought about before,” Howard said. “[That includes] a lot of studying and scouting your opposition and their offensive and defensive plays.”

While it may be challenging to play such a significant role so early in a college career, Howard said she is enjoying her rookie season.

“It gets really hard, but it’s definitely worth it, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world,” Howard said.

The Butler women’s basketball team ended its two-game Chicago trip with a 60-57 Horizon League win over Loyola of Chicago on Saturday.

For the Bulldogs (7-11, 3-4), the victory was their first on the road this season.

“We have played some away games that were pretty close and could have gone any way,” coach Beth Couture said. “Now that we have won one, I think the pressure is off of us. I think the kids were ready, but it had not rolled our way until Saturday.”

The Bulldogs started the game neck and neck with the Ramblers (9-10, 4-4), but two 3-pointers from Loyola junior forward Abby Skube gave the squad a 16-9 advantage.

The Ramblers used that momentum to build a 31-18 lead by halftime.

Butler ended the first half shooting 22 percent from the field, a far cry from Loyola’s 42 percent mark. The shooting discrepancy put the Bulldogs down by as many as 17 points in the first 20 minutes.

“They are a 3-point-shooting team, and we knew if we let them shoot or make a lot of threes, it was going to be hard for us to score with them,” Couture said. “We gave them five 3-pointers in the first half, and that was really the difference.”

In the second half, sophomore center Sarah Hamm led a rally that eventually cut Loyola’s lead to one point. Hamm finished the game with a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds.

“[Sarah] has really stepped it up, and her ability to flat out score inside and out is a huge key to us winning games,” junior forward Becca Bornhorst said. “She has been knocking down threes consistently, which makes her harder to guard.”

The Bulldogs took a 58-56 lead with 1:26 remaining in the game on a layup by freshman guard Hannah Douglas.

The Ramblers were unable to rally, giving Butler its fourth conference victory.

Hamm also led the team with a career-high 23 points in the team’s 77-42 loss at Illinois-Chicago on Thursday.

Despite leading all Bulldogs in scoring, Hamm said she was disappointed in the team’s overall performance.

“Individual performance did not matter in that game because we did not perform well as a team,” Hamm said. “Our team needs to be focused and more tuned in to the game plan.”

Despite Butler’s losing record, Couture said Hamm’s scoring has become an asset to the team.

“She has just continued to improve since right before Christmas,” Couture said. “She has really taken her game to the next level. She is a force inside the guard, which has really opened some things up for us inside.”

Couture also said that the team lagged behind in shooting against the Flames (12-7, 5-3) and that UIC’s 46 rebounds helped them to control the ball.

“It was one of those games where we were not even close to being at our best and they played at pretty much their best,” Couture said. “Even things we could control we just could not get a grasp on. I do not want us to play like that ever again.”

Couture said the Bulldogs will now turn their attention to their next game, a home contest against nationally-ranked Green Bay on Thursday.

“I think we will have to play pressure-free,” Couture said. “Hopefully the girls will go out there pressure-free and have some fun and see what happens when the stress is not on us.”

The game will start at 7 p.m. in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

College athletes begin their seasons with high hopes for success, but for a few, their hopes are crushed by athletic injuries.

While injuries don’t affect an overwhelming number of Butler student-athletes, a few cannot escape the inevitable.

Ryan Galloy, head athletic trainer, said he sees some season-ending injuries but not a lot of career-ending injuries because Butler athletes dedicate themselves to the recovery process.

“We’ve had some kids that, if they didn’t have the heart and the hard work and the work ethic that they have, they would’ve had a career-ending injury,” Galloy said. “They were able to push themselves and persevere.”

Sarah Hamm, a sophomore center for the Butler women’s basketball team, found out personally about the reality of a serious injury.

Hamm sustained an ACL, MCL and meniscus injury at the beginning of conference play as a freshman last January.

She said she was initially unaware of the severity of her injury but quickly learned that it would change the dynamic of her season.

“I was really worried about the season and whether I could play or not,” Hamm said. “It was kind of an emotional blow.”

Casey Sines, a junior middle blocker on the Butler volleyball team who sustained a shoulder injury, also said season-ending injuries take a mental toll on athletes.

After her injury, Sines said it took her a while to feel comfortable with her shoulder again.

“I kept babying it for a really long time,” she said. “I kept swinging at half speed instead of going after it. It took a lot longer for me to heal mentally than it did physically.”

Although an injury appears to be a wholly negative experience for an athlete, sometimes it proves to be a learning experience.

“I got smarter watching the game,” Sines said. “I raised my volleyball IQ—my sports IQ—just from watching the game a lot and watching drills and seeing things you don’t necessarily see when you’re out there playing. “

While injured athletes are still vital members of their teams, teammates and coaches said they aim to make the athletes feel like contributors to the team.

Beth Couture, Butler’s women’s basketball coach, said it’s important for an injured athlete to still feel involved.

“To keep them involved and feeling part of the team can be really tough,” Couture said. “So I think it takes a conscious effort from the coaching staff and the team.”

Hamm said she received a lot of support from coaches and teammates.
“Butler was a great school to be at during this,” Hamm said. “I had a lot of support. A lot of my teammates actually went through the same thing, so they were able to help me and talk me through it.”

Couture said that not only does the injured athlete need support, but that the entire team needs reassurance. She said she tries to lead by example for her players.

“I really try to stay calm,” Couture said. “Obviously for the player that is hurt, but also for the team coming back. If it’s an impact player, the players have to feel confidence that other people are ready to step in.”

Galloy said that the athletic trainers are also an important part of the prevention and recovery process.

“We want to be proactive,” he said. “If something is bothering you, we want to know about it so if there’s something we can do to help you stay on the court and stay on the field, then we’re going to do it.”

Hamm said it’s also important for an injured athlete to stay positive and think about the desired goal.

“You definitely need to be focused on your recovery and do everything you can to get back sooner,” she said.

Sines said she realized that hard work and dedication through recovery pays off.

“It an injury sounds terrible when it happens, and you think it’s the worst thing that could’ve happened,” Sines said. “I think I’m a stronger person from this happening.”

In her tenth year of coaching at Butler, Couture said she has seen her athletes fight the odds.

“At the end of the day, injuries are going to happen,” she said. “You hate it, and it’s disappointing, but it’s part of the game.”

The Butler women’s basketball team suffered another setback yesterday, falling 49-46 at Indiana State.

The game marked the sixth straight loss for the Bulldogs (1-7). Of those six losses, five have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

The Sycamores (5-3) got off to a quick start, taking an 8-1 lead after the first five minutes.

However, Butler freshman forward Haley Howard and junior forward Becca Bornhorst accounted for the Bulldogs’ next 13 points, pulling Butler within two.

Howard scored a game-high 17 points.

Photo by Maria Porter

Bornhorst, in her third game back after an injury, posted 14 points in 22 minutes of work, including a 3-pointer before halftime to cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to just one.

“We’ve made progress in areas we’ve been working on,” Bornhorst said, “such as boxing out and having ball pressure on defense. We just have yet to play a full 40 minutes being completely focused on the little things.”

Butler focused on those little things in the second half and appeared primed to snap its losing streak, leading 44-43 with 2:31 remaining.

But, four straight Indiana State free throws gave the Sycamores a three-point lead.

Trailing 49-46 with just four seconds remaining, senior guard Devin Brierly misfired on the front end of a one-and-one. Bornhorst’s ensuing 3-pointer fell off the mark, allowing the Sycamores to pick up their third consecutive win.

“You certainly don’t want to be [1-7], but when you look on the tape and on the floor, I feel like our players are getting better,” coach Beth Couture said. “Our kids are playing really hard right now, but we’re just making a lot of mistakes.”

Three days earlier, the Bulldogs fell to the Bowling Green Falcons 71-61. Butler trailed by just five at halftime, but the Falcons (5-2) pulled away, leading by as many as 17 points in the second half.

Freshman guard Hannah Douglas led Butler with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Douglas also pulled down a team-best five rebounds.

“We asked Hannah to be more aggressive and look to score,” Couture said. “She and all of our freshmen are bright spots. It’s just a matter of getting them all on the same page at the same time.”

The Bulldogs will host Ball State this Friday at 7 p.m. in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Photo by Maria Porter

Women’s basketball coach Beth Couture is a fighter. But she won’t tell you that.

After successfully battling breast cancer, Couture never missed a beat, continuing to coach and leading her team to numerous NCAA tournament postseason appearances.

“A fighter is absolutely an accurate title for her,” associate head women’s coach Amy Cherubini said. “She has a lot of passion, and she fought cancer just like she fights on the court. That makes her a success story with her career and her life as well.”

Couture even fought through a two-day, 15-mile walk to raise money and awareness for cancer and said she was motivated to keep going by the generosity of the doctors she received treatment from when she was recovering from cancer.

“It was just a small thing I could do to give back to the doctors and nurses that treat women all across Indianapolis,” Couture said.

Despite being labeled as a fighter, Couture said she finds it odd and would rather see the title given to her players.

“I find that weird when I hear people say that because it is something that is natural for me,” Couture said. “I am honored people think of me that way, and I hope I can live up to that. I just think that success is a choice and when you compete, effort is very important.”

Overall, Couture said that despite the team losing many of its seniors last season, she has high expectations and predicts the will do well this season.

“After losing five players we will have a new look,” Couture said. “Sarah Hamm and Terra Burns are two important ingredients in helping our team, but we will definitely need experience to develop into a solid team.”

Couture said she hopes the team will improve with the older players mentoring the younger players. Couture named Burns as one of the team’s key leaders and expects her to help the younger players improve.

“Our upperclassmen have to mentor the younger players,” Couture said. “It is a long season and I think we have the ingredients to help teach them.”

Though last season the team’s away record was 7-9, Couture said she thinks the team’s youth will actually help them at away games.

“That record was weird because usually our away record is better,” Couture said. “It is up to us as coaches to develop an atmosphere that is conducive for basketball. Usually younger players are more comfortable at away games since they are not used to playing in front of the home crowd, which can get to them.”

Burns said she thinks Couture’s connection to her players is what makes her a good coach.

“Me and coach are really tight,” Burns said. “She has great communication with her players. Of course we are supposed to do our job on the court but of course she still cares for us. Her fight with cancer is inspiring.”

Overall, Couture said that her battle with cancer definitely changed her perspective in coaching and in life.

“It makes you change your priorities and teaches you to not sweat the small stuff,” Couture said. “You just have to let things go and see what is important and reprioritize.”

Illustration by Maria Porter

Though the men’s season is just beginning, the women’s basketball season has been underway.

After losing many of their seniors last season, the Bulldogs hope to use their youth as an advantage on the court.

“This season we are younger,” said associate head women’s basketball coach Amy Cherubini. “We lost four of our five starters so I think we have gone back to the basics and have to hit on the fundamentals again.

“This is more of a teaching year. We have great team chemistry so we are hoping that will help out and that we will continue to improve.”

Though the team was plagued with numerous injuries last season, there are many players expected to make an impact on the court .

Terra Burns—Team Leader

Fifth-year senior guard Terra Burns is expected to be Butler’s most prolific scorer.

After suffering numerous injuries and being red shirted last season, Burns comes into this season as a leader and hopes to stay injury-free to help lead the team into the NCAA tournament.

“Getting to the tournament is a big goal this year, especially for me,” Burns said. “Focus is a main thing [the team is] trying to do.

“We are just paying attention to details so we can stay focused on the ultimate goal.”

During last year’s season opener, Burns had 11 points and eight rebounds against Bradley and currently averages 8.5 points per game.

“Had she not been injured, [Burns] would have been one of the best point guards in the league last season,” coach Beth Couture said. “She brings a lot of passion and athletic ability when she plays, so I am excited to have her back this year.”

Couture said Burns is one of the team’s leaders to help the younger players, but Burns said she hopes to earn the team’s respect for reasons other than to have the title of a leader.

“I guess I kind of see myself as a leader,” Burns said. “I think it is more so that the players respect me.

“I might not always be playing my best, but you never have to get on me about doing what I am supposed to do in terms of effort. So I think I have gained their respect because of that. Leadership reflects attitude.”

Sarah Hamm—Prolific Scorer

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm comes into this season also recovering from injuries from the previous season.

Before suffering a torn ACL, Hamm was one of the Horizon League’s blocked shots leaders and had her season-high of 15 points and eight rebounds in the Bulldogs’ double overtime win against Ball State.

Hamm finished the season with a shooting percentage of .522.

Assistant coach Tisha Hill said she thinks Hamm has the ability to repeat last season’s success.

“Our job is to bring [the playing ability] out of her, but ultimately it is all on Sarah,” Hill said. “There is no doubt the ability is there. She is a big threat for us, and if she continues to keep doing what she is doing with her rehab, she will be fine.”

Hamm said though she has the ability, she is still working to improve her play.

“I am really working on defense and trying to be stronger in the paint,” Hamm said. “We have an excellent chance of making the tournament, so in practice I have been working on every aspect of the game.”

Amanda Raker—Rising Star

One of the team’s new faces is freshman forward Amanda Raker. As a senior at Perry Meridian High School, Raker shot 53 percent from the floor and was named Most Valuable Player twice.

“[Raker] is learning every day and has a lot of great skills,” Couture said. “She will definitely be a plus for us down low, and we expect her to play for us a lot in the [center] and [forward] positions.”

Hill added that she also expects Raker to be an asset to the team as she grows during the season.

“She is a very good athlete,” Hill said. “She has some good athletic ability she has shown in individual workouts.

“I think she is going to do some great things for us, especially as she grows offensively, but she has that natural athletic ability that can really help in the paint. She has a good role on our team now and in future years.”

Raker said she is working to learn more techniques and skills through practices with the team.

“It is a lot of learning for me,” Raker said. “I have been learning a lot on defense and offense, but the one big thing for me is rebounding.”

Cherubini said the team’s ultimate goal is just to play better each game and to progress as the season goes on.

“With a young group, we will continue to improve every game,” she said. “After every game and every practice, we just have to walk away thinking we have gotten better that day.”

Led by the sharpshooting of senior guard Terra Burns, the Butler women’s basketball team picked up a narrow 69-68 win over Harvard Sunday.

The win marked the Bulldogs’ first of the season and secured the team third place in the Iowa Tournament following an opening-round loss to tournament champion University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Burns posted a team-high 17 points and led all players with nine rebounds.

“We definitely had a point to prove,” Burns said. “The night before, we definitely weren’t the team that I knew we could be.”

Butler (1-1) got out of the gate quickly, shooting 52 percent in the first half. Following a lay up by junior guard Elizabeth Jennings near the 12-minute mark, the Bulldogs never trailed.

Freshman forward Haley Howard paced Butler in the first half with 13 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field. The Whiteland native finished with 15 points and eight boards.

The Bulldogs carried a 42-36 lead into halftime and continued their strong play into the second half.

A jumper by freshman guard Hannah Douglas opened up a 67-56 lead—Butler’s largest of the game—with about four minutes remaining.

Harvard (0-2) responded with a 12-2 run that saw the Crimson cut their deficit to one.

The Crimson had possession with 12 seconds remaining, trailing by one, but Butler sophomore guard Jenna Cobb stole the ball from junior forward Emma Golen, sealing the win for the Bulldogs and squandering Harvard’s comeback bid.

“It showed our toughness,” coach Beth Couture said. “I felt good about the composure on the floor. They stayed together as a team.”

One day earlier, Butler was unable to overcome a slow start and suffered a 62-39 loss to UNLV.

The Bulldogs struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 6-of-29 from the field en route to a 17-point halftime deficit.

Sophomore guard Mandy McDivitt led the Bulldogs with 11 points.

In the weekend’s games, six of the eight Bulldogs who received significant minutes were underclassmen.

“I think those young kids are very talented,” Couture said. “If they continue to improve every day, I think we could have a lot of fun come league time.”

Butler will be back in action Sunday when it visits Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (0-3).

On Saturday, the Bulldogs will travel to the Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Fort Wayne, where they will meet and interact with patients.

“We try to do as much as we can helping kids,” Burns said.

The Butler women’s basketball team fired up its 2011-12 preseason with a win against St. Francis on Sunday.

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm put up 22 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 76-59 victory.

Freshman forward Haley Howard, made a strong first impression by adding 11 points in the win.

“They shot the heck out of them,” Butler coach Beth Couture said. “At times we looked really good, at times we had a lot of improvement to make, and that’s what I expected.”

It was a solid win for Butler, who led the game from the outset. The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Cougars 46-29 and tallied 18 assists.

Each Butler player recorded at least nine minutes of playing time, and 12 different Bulldogs tallied a point.

St. Francis shot better from the line, though, making 15 of 17 free throws, compared to 7 of 13 by Butler.

In the end, the Bulldogs were able to come away with the victory despite their free throw struggles.

“If we don’t start shooting those better, we’ll have a lot of early morning time to work on it,” Couture said.

This year’s squad includes three returning seniors: Guards Terra Burns, Kaley May and Devin Brierly.

Burns said she is excited for the team’s upcoming season.

Photo by Maria Porter

“I’m really proud of this team,” Burns said. “I’m glad I came back, and I expect us to do great things.”

The team appears to be a close-knit unit, making the Bulldogs a potentially tough opponent.

“My big thing for this year was our team chemistry,” Brierly said. “I honestly had never been on a team that’s gotten along so well and played so well together.”

“We have a great base, we get along well, and we play great as a team,” May said. “And those are the things you can’t coach.”

For some of the freshmen, their first college performance was a bit nerve-wracking.

“I was really nervous,” freshman guard Jessika Lark said.”[I was] ready to puke.”

The Bulldogs will travel to Iowa City for their next game against Nevada-Las Vegas in the Iowa Tournament on Nov. 12.

The contest will open both the Iowa Tournament and the regular season for the Bulldogs.

“Stay tuned, maybe November will be even better,” Couture said.