There are only three upperclassmen — and none of them seniors — on The Master’s University women’s basketball team, but that’s not necessarily a disadvantage.
“I think we can play a lot more free,” said sophomore guard Hannah Ostrom. “Just because we have no expectations on us this season because we don’t have a lot of returners and so that allows us to come in and just kind of (have) an underdog mindset.”
The Mustangs certainly didn’t look the part of the underdog on Tuesday against Bethesda, a matchup that turned into an 88-61 win in TMU’s favor.
Ostrom scored 13 points against the Flames and pulled down nine rebounds. Hannah Forrar, a freshman, scored a game-high 19 points, while Rebekah Throns tallied 17 and Anika Neuman 14.
“I don’t know whose going to step up and score for us every night, which is kind of a mystery,” said coach Dan Waldeck of his team’s scoring depth.
“I don’t know if I like the mystery,” he joked, “but at least there are people that stepped up every night so far.”
Waldeck added that he’s been particularly impressed with his guards like Ostrom, Kimmie Wong, Jamilee Iddings, Alyssa Prettyman and Brooke Bailey.
The Mustangs also have several young post players that are developing nicely as the season progresses.
“They’ve come in I think (Neuman) and (Throns) and Jessica (Soares) have been great,” Ostrom said. “They’re learning and they’re getting better every day, so that’s been fun.”
Keeping a solid flow between offense and defense is a focus for the young team this year. TMU pulled down some key rebounds and turned them into scoring opportunities — a good sign for a team looking for progress.
“I’m so excited because we all get to play together for quite a few years,” Forrar said. “And so I just know that after this year growing together and seeing like, how we play well together, it just going to continue to build every single year.”
