• About
  • Advertising
  • History
  • Staff
  • Contact

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
  • COVID-19
You are here: Home / Sports / Winless Ravens find silver linings in season

Winless Ravens find silver linings in season

February 7, 2018 by Jordan Yaney

The AU women’s basketball team has started their season 0-20, and with only six healthy players for the rest of the season, there is a growing sense that the Ravens may finish the season winless.

But despite the rough year, there are reasons to believe the team will have more success next season.

Hannah Hawkins, a 6’1” center from Fairmount, Indiana, is closing in on becoming the first freshman to lead the women’s basketball team in both scoring and rebounding over the course of a full season.

After starting the season coming off the bench, Hawkins quickly grabbed a starting spot due to her height and dominance on the low block.

Hawkins currently averages 9.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She would be the first freshman to lead the team in both categories since the university began keeping statistical archives in the 2000-01 season.

“For me, giving up is not an option,” said Hawkins. “I knew that I had the potential to help my team, so I put in the extra work and just earned my spot on the team,”

She also leads the team in blocks per game, averaging 1.5, and field goal percentage, shooting 52.7 percent.

More of the team’s struggles can be attributed to the bizzarre number of injuries the Ravens have suffered this season. Only one player has played in all 20 games.

Due to the injuries, the team has only been playing with six players since Jan. 24. Five of the six are freshman (Hawkins, Ryana Watson, Hannah Dunn, Jordan Ware and Marlowe McVay).

Even with more than half of the team sidelined for the rest of the year, they are still doing their best to improve as players.

Freshman Lauren McGuire was active for a team low six games this season due to a concussion, but has taken time off and turned it into a learning experience.

“I’ve been able to make sure I really know the plays, she said. “Physically I am really limited, so I can’t do much there, but I’ve definitely gotten better at being a better teammate and supporting the girls.”

The injured players are still expected to attend and be fully engaged at all practices and games.

“It makes us feel like a part of the team still, even if we aren’t playing,” McGuire said.

The Ravens have also been able to develop some very young talent in the midst of their injury-riddled season.

Coach Lindsay Shade took over the program before the 2015-16 season. Since that time, she hascoached several very young teams, and this season is no different. With seven freshman and five sophomores on a roster of only 13, one of Shade’s main focuses has been developing her players as they transition from high school to college.

One key to developing the young players and helping them transition is an established culture that players can buy into.

“Typically, upperclassmen model what it takes,” said Shade. “Over time, the freshman start to catch on. With only one senior and no juniors, we do not have that luxury.”

Due to this, Shade has been forced to create a new culture each year and find players who can accept it quickly.

“If young players can come in with a growth mindset, they will progress quicker,” Shade said. “Having a growth mindset allows them to receive feedback in a way that is productive.”

Even with all the injuries this season, Shade has done a good job rotating her players and broadening their skill sets.

Hawkins explained, “The coaches revealed my strengths to me and showed me how to properly use them against older more experienced players.”

Despite a potentially winless season for the Ravens, the future is looking bright.

The team will have 12 players eligible to return next year, along with a strong class of freshman set to join the team. If the players can stay healthy and build upon their experience from this season, then the Ravens could see a big turn around next year.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Sports

Watch

Jacey Crawford discusses the recent COVID-19 vaccinations administered on campus by nursing students and Gillian Lintz interviews Prof. Jack Lugar and Roger Gibson about the Black Bird Film Festival.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Miles Morey discusses the long-awaited Bronze Ball victory, the baseball team’s double header against Manchester and the Rocket League’s progress.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Raven Watch 2020-12-07

On this episode of the Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan is joined by former Big Ten Player of the Year and Indiana Pacer Clark Kellogg as they discuss displaying your faith in sports, Clark’s career as a player and broadcaster and his game of “H.O.R.S.E.” with President Obama.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-12-03

On this episode, Jordan Yaney sits down with senior soccer player Drew Sonnefeldt to discuss his soccer career, trips to Europe, hobbies, and dreams of playing professional soccer

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-24

In the third Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Hannah Hawkins, a senior basketball player, about starting her freshman year 0-25, becoming more of a leader on the team and facing their one-on-one battle on the court freshman year. Thanks to our sponsor, the Folgate Agency. Please contact Steve Folgate for Allstate insurance and […]

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-18

In the second-ever Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Kennedy Parker, a senior baseball player, about finding out last season was canceled while the team was in Florida, why he decided to come back for a fifth year and play and what he expects out of this year’s team.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
14 Apr

Jacey Crawford discusses the recent COVID-19 vaccinations administered on campus by nursing students and Gillian Lintz interviews Prof. Jack Lugar and Roger Gibson about the Black Bird Film Festival.
https://andersonian.com/2021/04/13/andersonian-2021-04-13/

Reply on Twitter 1382475799488573442Retweet on Twitter 13824757994885734423Like on Twitter 13824757994885734423Twitter 1382475799488573442
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
4 Apr

The Black Bird Film Festival will be held on April 28, with the red carpet rolling out at 6:15 p.m. and the screening beginning at 7:00 p.m. Read more about the annual event: https://andersonian.com/2021/04/03/cinema-students-prepare-for-annual-black-bird-film-festival/

Reply on Twitter 1378527146084302849Retweet on Twitter 13785271460843028495Like on Twitter 137852714608430284910Twitter 1378527146084302849
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
1 Apr

Students in our #1 nursing program in Indiana helped administer nearly 400 COVID-19 vaccines today to AU students, faculty and staff!

4
Reply on Twitter 1377724570229149700Retweet on Twitter 13777245702291497004Like on Twitter 137772457022914970025Twitter 1377724570229149700
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.