The women’s basketball team takes on their first game of the season Oct. 26 at home in the Patrick Gymnasium against Saint Michael’s College. The Catamounts have a very demanding and competitive schedule ahead, and coach Lori Gear McBride said she is “cautiously optimistic for the season.”

This year’s roster is comprised of just two seniors and four juniors meaning the younger talent will be seeing more time on the court.

“I am excited about all three of our freshmen, I think all of them will see court time and will be able to contribute right away,” Coach McBride said.

“I am so proud of what the younger players have accomplished so far. Even though we are so early into the season, each and every one of the girls has made some major strides and have adjusted to this program so well,” senior guard Sam Simononis said.

While the first-years are gearing up for their ?rst collegiate season, Simononis is looking forward to her last season as a Catamount. “I would like to stay as healthy as possible so I can compete in every game,” Simononis said.

Another thing Simononis and fellow senior Tanya Conley are looking forward to is senior night. Although this can be emotional for athletes because it is their last collegiate home game, “I would also like to get the ‘W’ on my senior night,” Simononis said.

This season it will take place Feb. 22 against the Binghamton University Bearcats.

Last year the Catamounts faced the Bearcats twice and defeated them both times. This season’s match up should be an intense one because the Bearcats are sure to be hungry for a win.

With the season starting in a little over a week, Coach McBride and her players are excited to see all of their hard work translate onto the court.

“We have focused primarily on strength and conditioning in the off-season,” McBride said.

Basketball is typically one of the longest sports seasons so players really need to make sure their bodies can endure that.

This season the Catamounts schedule begins on Oct.26 and ends around the beginning of March. With such a long schedule, the strength and conditioning “helps to prepare our players’ bodies for the grueling physicality of the season, along with taking care of any nagging injuries which was the biggest priority for our team,” McBride said.

The Catamounts have high expectations for the season. “This season I expect my team to make it the America East championship,” Simononis said.

“We have worked so hard thus far and the entire team has that goal in mind so ?ngers crossed that we get there!”

Coach McBride would love nothing more than to make it to the championship, too. “Our seniors, Tonya Conley and Sam Simononis have worked really hard and hope to feel a lot of success this season.

They have set the tone for our underclassmen and want to do whatever they can to leave with a championship,” McBride said.

The America East Conference is very competitive and UVM has great rivalries with many of the schools. With such promising new talent and seniors hungry for a championship the season promises to be a great one.