Spring Break
Gilliam expects excellence from women's basketball
Nicole Jacobsen, Associate Sports Editor, njacobse@smu.edu
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports
The break-through scorer also had a heavy impact in the NCAA tournament, racking up 12 points and four rebounds before fouling out with 2:07 remaining.
Gilliam has been on the team for only two years but already has a fistful of memories to last her a lifetime. Topping the list, though, was winning the C-USA Championship.
"Going in, it was a big game," said Gilliam. "Everything was riding on it for us to go to the NCAA Tournament. To be in that state of mind going to the championship was really cool."
Riding on three-game streak before defeating UTEP, the team had come to rely on the strong offensive presence of Janielle Dodds and Sharee Shepherd's defensive showmanship.
"There's going to be more shots taken from the team," explained Gilliam. "I think we'll lose something, but it won't be a one-man show anymore. It's going to make teams harder to scout us because they can't be focused on just one player."
When asked if their absence is going to affect play in the future, Gilliam confidently states that while the girls will be missed, the new team already holds some advantages from the reigning 2008 conference champs.
"You've got two players coming back as the second and third leading scorers [Wills and Samuels]," explained Gilliam. "All the returning players fall high in important categories. I'm really looking for the same production, but maybe even better because we're going to be more experienced."
So what can the individual who contributed to the most wins for the team in the program's history still improve on?
"It's about me finding the heart for it. I think that's the biggest thing is getting back to loving it," explained Gilliam about being in postseason. "You know, you just have to have the want and will for it, and that's the biggest thing I've been learning is the will, the want, and the heart."
Gilliam has been on the team for only two years but already has a fistful of memories to last her a lifetime. Topping the list, though, was winning the C-USA Championship.
"Going in, it was a big game," said Gilliam. "Everything was riding on it for us to go to the NCAA Tournament. To be in that state of mind going to the championship was really cool."
Riding on three-game streak before defeating UTEP, the team had come to rely on the strong offensive presence of Janielle Dodds and Sharee Shepherd's defensive showmanship.
"There's going to be more shots taken from the team," explained Gilliam. "I think we'll lose something, but it won't be a one-man show anymore. It's going to make teams harder to scout us because they can't be focused on just one player."
When asked if their absence is going to affect play in the future, Gilliam confidently states that while the girls will be missed, the new team already holds some advantages from the reigning 2008 conference champs.
"You've got two players coming back as the second and third leading scorers [Wills and Samuels]," explained Gilliam. "All the returning players fall high in important categories. I'm really looking for the same production, but maybe even better because we're going to be more experienced."
So what can the individual who contributed to the most wins for the team in the program's history still improve on?
"It's about me finding the heart for it. I think that's the biggest thing is getting back to loving it," explained Gilliam about being in postseason. "You know, you just have to have the want and will for it, and that's the biggest thing I've been learning is the will, the want, and the heart."
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