Team focuses on offseason strength, conditioning too
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 10/06/2009
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For the Purdue women’s basketball team, getting stronger was the focal point of the offseason.
According to coach Sharon Versyp, getting stronger is what she stressed to her players over the summer.
“The biggest thing over the summer was to get stronger, to physically get into shape,” Versyp said. “And just mental toughness: We just really need to mature.
“We’re very, very young with seven sophomores and three freshmen and three seniors, so we’re very immature. We have to really challenge them as much as we can to work on their mental psyche.”
Sophomore guard Brittany Rayburn said she’s gotten stronger and has improved her bench press by ten pounds from last year to this year.
“I’ve never been this strong from high school to here,” Rayburn said. “I improved so much, so I feel my strength is coming back.”
Rayburn says she’s going to use that strength to take the ball to the basket more, even though she’s considered one of the best three-point shooters on the team.
“It’s not easier to take the three sometimes,” Rayburn said. “...You always want those breaks, and if you take it to the basket and get fouled, you get to rest at the free throw line, not only for you, but for your teammates as well.”
The Boilermakers’ court general, senior FahKara Malone, also added weight to her bench press max. According to Malone, she maxed out at 140 pounds last year, and this year she’s already lifted 165.
Senior guard Jodi Howell said most team members improved their strength over the summer, and they’ll need it because the Boilers lost four forwards to graduation from last season.
“I think it will be difficult and we’ll have to step up in other areas,” Howell said. “But in the long run, I think it will make us a more well-rounded team.”