December 9, 2022

Manchester Women’s Basketball Team Prepares to Slam Dunk New Season

Tristen Bronaugh

As they began their season with a strong start, a new roster of players ignites a competitive drive and creates a new look for the Manchester women’s basketball team.

Basketball season is officially underway and there have been a few changes from last season. The women’s basketball program graduated four seniors in spring 2022; however, they have doubled that in recruits. The program welcomed nine first-year players, adding depth to the roster as Manchester returned 12 of their players, only two being seniors.

Senior Hannah Lindsey is thrilled about the new additions. “This team is the biggest roster I have been a part of in my four years here which is great,” she said. “It has created a competitive environment where we have a deep bench and multiple players fighting for minutes.”

What is the difference that Lindsey sees with this team compared to last? “Our mentality has changed a lot, we have so much talent on this roster, and we really believe in our ability to display it on gameday,” she says. “We have each other’s backs, and we push ourselves to be the best players we can be.”

The Spartans have also added assistant coach Teilor Hubbard to their coaching staff. Hubbard’s passion for basketball and five-plus years of coaching experience are a great addition to the program. “I try to dedicate all of my time to either learning or teaching basketball to young athletes,” Hubbard says. “I believe my skills and love for the game of basketball have led me to want to help motivate and guide athletes to be more successful in all aspects of life. I take pride in being able to give athletes the confidence that they can be whatever they want to be in life with the right type of attitude, focus, and work ethic.”

Hubbard decided to join the Manchester program because of the university’s core values, as they lined up with her own. “I feel like Manchester is a University that is big on faith, integrity, diversity, and community, which are the values that I hold so dearly,” she said.

What does Coach Josh Dzurick, who is entering his 19th season with the program, think about this team?

“A strength is our depth, we got a 50/50 blend of returners and first years,” he said. “We got a nice group of veterans that know what to expect and can help young players navigate.”

Dzurick also pointed out the roles of the captains, junior Alyssa Pfeil and fifth-year Bridget Nash. “It’s essential for a large roster to be able to come together as a group and you need some good leaders to do that, Bridget and Alyssa are well respected as people and student-athletes and that’s a big help,” he said.

“Having a large group, you gotta figure out what works for you; there are a lot of quality teams in our conference,” Dzurick said. “ I see a path and a vision where we can consistently compete and put ourselves in position at the end of games.”

Players to keep your eye on during this season are first year Hailee Kline and senior Hannah Lindsey. With that being said, any name on this team can be a player to watch because they have the capability to step up on any given night.

The Spartans are currently 5-2 this season and 2-0 in the conference. The team will carry their four-game win streak as they continue their season on Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. against Franklin University. Live stream will be provided by the official website of Manchester University Athletics.