The Fanshawe Falcons women's basketball team has been working hard to prepare for a successful season. All of this hard work and preparation is starting to show in the team's overall improvement on the court.

With so many new players, the team has had to work extra hard during practices. "Our chemistry isn't quite there, but we're definitely coming together as a team," said new player Sasha Senior.

"We need to be able to communicate a lot better than we are right now," she added. But even though the ladies have their work cut out for them, the players believe they have come a long way since the practices at the start of the season.

Despite injuries, new players and tough practices, the women say they have the motivation and drive to enjoy a triumphant season and even win championships. "These are issues on every basketball team; you've just got to push through it," said Senior.

One of the injured players said, "It's not been stopping me. We've been able to manage with it and keep the spirit going." They say that pushing through tough times as a team is all about keeping a positive attitude and the players have been doing just that.

The new players also mentioned that the level of competition in college basketball compared to high school is entirely different. The new players for the Falcons say they are adjusting to the difference, but they are also enjoying the dedication and hard work needed to make a college team victorious.

The coaches and players are expecting an improvement on last year's performance and are going the extra mile to make that happen. Practicing often and working on conditioning and defensive strategies are a few of the things the team has been focusing on.

The players are excited and hopeful for their upcoming games. The women had their first official game of the season on November 2 against Sheridan.

You can find the schedule of upcoming games for the women's basketball team at tinyurl.com/womensbball2011 or by heading down to the Athletic Office.