Oct. 15, 2010
Photo Gallery: First Practice of the 2010-11 Season
The UMass Lowell men's and women's basketball teams began official practices for the 2010-11 season on Oct. 15, kicking off what promises to be exciting seasons for both programs. Each squad boasts many new faces, with the women's team welcoming nine new players and the men's side adding six new student-athletes.
The men kicked off practice at the stroke of midnight, early Friday morning, while the women will begin this afternoon. Each team looks forward with anticipation for the upcoming season, looking to improve on impressive years in 2009-10.
Despite losing a large portion of their offense, the young men's squad is energetic and excited, ready to show its talents and strengths. The team's leading returner is sophomore Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.), who joined the squad midway through the season after transferring from the University of New Hampshire. He tallied 8.8 PPG, while classmate Scotty Tavares-Taylor (Roxbury, Mass.) contributed 6.5 a game.
"I was very excited about the energy and intensity of the entire team," Head Coach Greg Herenda said. "We were flying all over the gym and competing very hard. For the first night of practice, I came away a very happy coach. Everyone in the gym was extremely focused and the players got after it at the stroke of midnight."
The men, who captured the 2010 Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship and finished the year 20-12 with a 13-9 clip in NE-10 action, begin their season on Nov. 13-14, hosting the Tip-Off Classic and welcoming Felician, Post and Pace. They will take on the Felician Golden Falcons at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13 in Costello Gym.
Despite welcoming many new players, the River Hawk women return 2009-10 leading scorer and NE-10 Co-Freshman of the Year Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.), who averaged 13.0 PPG, as well as third leading scorer Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio), who tallied 9.9 PPG.
"The first day of practice is always filled with lots of excitement, enthusiasm and energy," Head Coach Kathy O'Neil said, entering her 26th year at the helm of the River Hawk bench. "We are excited to see how the returners have improved and what our newcomers will add. This is a hardworking group and we are looking forward to molding and shaping those talents together as a team."
Coming off a 16-11 season with a 12-10 mark in conference play, the women will also kick off the year with an early-season tournament, heading to Springfield for the American International College Tip-Off Classic. They will go head-to-head with C.W. Post at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13 before taking on Bloomfield at the same time on Sunday, Nov. 14.
Both teams open their conference schedule with a contest against Saint Michael's at home on Wednesday, Nov. 17. The women will open the doubleheader with a 5:30 tipoff and the men will play at 7:30.
