Practice team challenges women’s basketball players

One attribute of the women’s basketball team’s success comes from its practice squad.

“The overall goal is to give the USD women a look at their opponent’s offense and defense,” senior Trever Serr said. “It’s giving them unpredictable people to play against.”

The women’s practice, or scout team, is composed of six men who are treated just like the other athletes — they have to take a drug test, get a physical and maintain their GPA.

“Men are more physical, and the team is looking to get beat down so they know how to handle it in a game. It gives them more stamina, drive and the upper hand,” Serr said.

Two red shirt players, junior Abigail Fogg and junior Catilin Duffy, also practice against the team.

“It provides an opportunity where we can challenge the team to help them in preparing for games in the future,” Fogg said. “It also gives us an opportunity to hone our own skills and get integrated in the system and style of practice and play here at USD.”

Often, the players come in a little early before practice to learn plays, or a coach will walk them through plays during practice.

“You have to learn on the fly and retain a lot because they have 10 sets that they run. We have to run them within the practice and try to be as realistic as possible,” Serr said.

Junior Brian Juran loves the experience.

“The experience in general is fun,” he said. “Especially with as good as our women’s team is, it’s cool to think you had a little something to do with it.”

Meanwhile, Fogg learns a lot from practicing against the team.

“​Being able to practice with the team has been a very rewarding experience,” Fogg said. “I like being able to push my limits as a basketball player by assuming roles that I have not traditionally had.”

The women’s team goals are to win the Summit League Championship and improve as a defensive team. The Summit League Tournament is approaching fast, and Fogg feels she is contributing to the teams goals by practicing against them.

“Whether it be through directly challenging the team offensively or defensively, by taking a rep or two to let them rest their legs or by maintaining morale and cheering them on, I enjoy being a part of this process any way that I can,” she said. “I love that I have the opportunity to play basketball, get better and interact with great players and a great staff every day.”

With a record of 21-6 (11-3 Summit League), the team is practicing against the scout team to prepare for the last two games of the season.

“The coaches are super nice, the players make you want to be there, and then you get to be a part of something bigger than just playing at the Wellness Center,” Serr said.

(Photo: Junior Brian Juran, left, screens senior Nicole Seekamp for fellow junior practice team member Jerod DeBey in a women’s basketball practice Feb. 23. Miranda Letcher / The Volante)