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Our own Tampa Spartans may be the best women’s basketball team out there when the Sunshine State Conference tournament is played in the first week of March.
I have been covering the team throughout its late-season surge towards the top of the SSC standings, and I have seen quite a dramatic turnaround from top to bottom. Coach Tom Jessee agrees.
“We were about as bad as I’ve ever seen anybody play in the first ballgame of the season,” Jessee said after the Feb. 21 defeat of Florida Tech. “These guys can tell you that. But we knew we would change. As time went on they learned the offensive system and the defensive scheme. So we’re right where I hoped we would be this time of year.”
What I see on the floor is exactly what the team preaches and practices.
The offense works equally around the whole team. Count Gianna Messina, Hailee Sullivan, Tiara Cook and Kym Taylor among those who have carried games this season.
They don’t care what the venue is, they still find ways to win. Players and coaches have repeatedly stressed the importance of winning on the road as well as defending their home court. UT has won a conference-leading four road games this season and has only suffered one home loss.
They play well in all aspects of the game. They lead their conference in several statistical categories and, as evidenced by their big lead in scoring margin, can do it on both sides of the ball.
The Spartans are led by numerous multi-talented players.
Cook has registered four double-doubles this season, stepping up the game in the paint.
Taylor is shooting over 50%, leading the team and helping Cook defend the front court.
Messina leads the team in scoring average, assists, steals and even rebounds despite being a 5’6” guard. The former USF starter says she transferred to UT this year for the great athletic and academic programs, plus a reunion with twin sister Catriana. (As a twin myself, I know how she feels.)
From long-range threats (Messina, Sullivan, Angela Guiu) to big post players (Cook, Taylor, Caitlyn Mytrik), the Spartans have it all and can take it all the way to the conference title. In any sport, well-rounded teams are often the best and the toughest to beat. UT may prove this true when the postseason rolls around.
Brenton Burkett can be reached at bburkett@ut.edu.
The University of Tampa women’s basketball team dropped their first game at home. The 14-5 (5-3 SSC) Lynn University Knights defeated the 13-5 (4-4 SSC) Tampa Spartans Wednesday night by the score of 67-63.
Tira Cook led UT with 18 points. The Spartans trailed by as much as 14 points to the Knights.
Read the full story at: http://tampaspartans.athleticsite.com/article.asp?articleID=1364
–Kyle Bennett
Kyle Bennett can be reached at minaret.overtime@gmail.com
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