University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Women's Basketball Preseason Diary Entry 1: Ashley Sharpton
October 26, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2005
October 25, 2005
After 10 days of practice, the pieces are starting to come together. We're learning each others strengths and weaknesses and are beginning to look better and better each day. Since last year, there have been vast improvements on both sides of the ball. We have been working on keeping consistent energy levels at practice and on our leadership skills. Yesterday, we scrimmaged some guys and then reviewed the tape today. We noticed several things we need to improve on such as transition defense and taking care of the ball better.
The entire team is very focused right now and we are all coming to together to achieve a common goal of winning the Atlantic 10 Conference. Today, we put in a zone defense and an out of bounds play. Coach Dacko reminded us today that we only have 10 days until our first game (scrimmage against Simon Fraser on Nov. 4). It seems like just yesterday we were running our mile test at Amherst College, which marked the beginning of our preseason. November 4th is right around the corner and we are doing everything we can to prepare us for a great upcoming season!!!
Ashley Sharpton Redshirt senior guard
NOTE: This is the first in a series of diary entries leading up to the start of the regular season Nov. 18. For the next few weeks, a different player will submit an entry every couple of days talking about what the team is doing to prepare for the start of the season.