University of Massachusets Athletics
Q&A With Kate Mills
December 13, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2005
Q: Why did you start playing basketball?
A: My whole family played. It was something that we all loved to do. I am competitive and basketball is a good competitive sport to get in too, so I just went right in to it and never stopped.
Q: What drew you to UMass?
A: I am majoring in engineering and they have a great engineering program. When I came on my visit I clicked with the coaching staff and the players that were coming back. Everything seemed to work really well together so it was an easy decision.
Q: How was the transition from high to college?
A: Basketball wise, it is much more fast paced for college and you have to be in much better shape. I worked hard in the off season this past summer to get in better shape.
School wise, you are the only person responsible for your grades, you're not going to have someone telling you to go to class or study hard. You have to motivate yourself.
Q: What are your personal goals this season?
A: To come out and be consistent with my rebounding and try to contribute as much as possible scoring wise in the game. Just be consistent to my team.
Q: And in your career?
A: Wow I haven't even thought about that yet. Just no regrets as to how I played for the four years that I am here and to be a leader for my team. And hopefully with hard work from year to year be successful.
Q: What are your team goals?
A: Definitely we want to be well over .500 by the end of the season. We want to be very competitive in the A-10 tournament and trying to win the A-10 championship, which I know we can do. I have so much confidence in our team.
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
A: Not really, I haven't really development anything like that yet. I have been taking a nap lately and I might stick with that. As a team we say a prayer and then get in each others faces to get everyone up for the game.
Q: What is your favorite part about being an athlete at UMass?
Just my team. I love my team so much. Being an athlete, I already have 11 friends just by playing basketball, and its just great to being an athlete here.
Q: What do you do with your day off?
A: Sleep in maybe, unless I have classes and catch up on homework.
Q: How do you balance being a DI athlete and going to school?
A: It's very hard. Working on time management is a difficult thing for me, but its something I have to work on. I need to not get frustrated with myself or things that are going on in my life. Just to relax a little bit, it can get a little crazy sometimes.
Q: What is your favorite moment pertaining to sports?
A: Probably getting the scholarship to come and play college ball for UMass. That's what I had been working up to my entire life, basically. To reach my goal and be here, that is a great accomplishment.
Q: Do you go to other UMass sporting events?
A: Yes, I go to softball games and I'm going to try to get to other sports. Defiantly in the off season I want to get to a lot of games, it's just hard right now. I know a lot of athletes come to my games and it's so appreciated.
What is playing on your Ipod?
A: Coldplay is on my Ipod a lot, I'm always listening to them.
Q: Where is your favorite place to eat in Amherst?
A: Well right out side of Amherst, in Springfield, is a place called On the Boarder and that is my favorite spot. In Amherst, probably The Pub, it's pretty good. We go there a lot for our pregame meals.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
A: I haven't decided what I want to do. As long as I graduate, that is what I am focusing on right now. Engineering is a pretty tough major, so when I get a little closer to the end I will start to make more plans. Right now I am just focusing on getting to each year ahead of me, so right now I am focusing on getting to my Junior year.