University of Richmond Athletics
A Player's Perspective - Up-Close And Personal With Senior Alison Mitchell
10/31/2005 | Women's Basketball
Editor's Note: The Spiders' women's basketball team enjoyed its third 20-plus win season in a row (23-8) in 2004-05, which included the program's first-ever at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and a Top 25 ranking. Forward Alison Mitchell was a vital part of the team's success last year, appearing in 21 games, scoring in 16, and averaging 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest. She was ranked third on the team in free throw percentage (.765) and second on the team in field goal percentage (.554). Mitchell scored a career-high of 13 points in Atlantic 10 Championship semi-final against George Washington (3/6), hit at least half of her shots in 12 games, grabbed at least one rebound in 14 games with a career-high of seven against Fordham (2/14), was perfect from the free throw line in three contests, and was named the team's co-Most Improved Player.
How do the Spiders prepare to build upon last year's success? Alison's weekly diary will provide some answers as she takes us to the weight room, the track, the dining hall, the campus, and finally - the court - with several other stops along the way.
It's A Player's Perspective...
Entry One - October 30, 2005
I'm writing tonight, feeling pretty exhausted, not only this weekend, but from all of the events from the past week. We have just taken our midterm exams and are well into the semester, so needless to say the work load is pretty heavy. I haven't been playing recently because of a stress fracture, so it is surprising that I am so tired, but I did get to run some today and, although I didn't get to play, I was allowed to warm up with the team before our scrimmage against Maryland, which of course was the highlight of my day.
We were all pumped for today's scrimmage because, even though it wasn't a real game with new uniforms and our amazing fans to cheer us on, it was one step closer to our first game. It made me think about all of the hard work we have already had to endure, from the three-mile test to preseason workouts to "unofficial official" practices as Coach Shafer referred to them. Today, my team had another test. It was the first time we have had a chance to play against someone other than ourselves. Everyone played well against a very talented and athletic team and I'm confident that we will be ready for our next step, our exhibition game next Saturday.
I am not only worn out from my "strenuous" workout schedule today, but from the events of the past week. Thursday was a particularly fun and special day because it was DeUnna's 21st birthday. We had a birthday party for her that night and since it was almost Halloween, everyone dressed up in costumes. Because my team is full of such "creative" people, there were some very interesting costumes.
As a tribute to DeUnna, Saona dressed as D, while the freshmen, Whitney, Auggie, Sara and one of our managers, Caroline, dressed up as babies with baby bottles, pacifiers and bibs. Kelly was a sumo wrestler and found a costume that could be "blown up" to the size of a real sumo wrestler so it was difficult for her to even fit through the door. Camps was a can of soda. Ania, Tanja and Amber wore funny wigs, masks and makeup. Mirna painted her face white and wore black lipstick for her witch costume. Gil called herself a "ferocious jack-o-lantern," although it was hard to see her as "ferocious" when she was wearing a pumpkin costume made for a two-four year-old child. Johanna and I decided to go as ourselves and D wore a mask that was half man/half basketball and a T-shirt that Gil and I made for her. Even though we were the only ones dressed up at the party, which was four days before Halloween, we had a blast!
Tomorrow, I have an 8am lift to kick off the start of another week, but I'm counting down the days until Wednesday when I can finally be on the court again!
