Women’s Basketball Starts Season Strong
Junior Emma Dorshimer helped to lead the Bullets to victory in their first Centennial Conference matchup (Photo courtesy of Gettysburg College Athletics)
By John Zak, Staff Writer
The Gettysburg College Women’s Basketball team remains undefeated after their first three games of the season.
The Lady Bullets officially began their season Nov. 17 with a 74-65 win over Lehman College. Only a day later, they defeated Virginia Wesleyan College 55-52.
In their final game before their Thanksgiving feast, the Bullets defeated Centennial Conference opponent Franklin & Marshall College 71-58.
The women’s basketball team has averaged 66.7 points per game.
The team has also shown its offensive efficiency through the early part of this season with its .412 field goal percentage and a .704 free throw percentage.
The Bullets also exemplify the need for teamwork with a statistical average of 15 assists per game.
The team’s performance is further sustained by strong individual upperclassmen performances.
Junior guard Emma Dorshimer was named Centennial Conference player of the week Monday due to her success in the F&M matchup.
In this game, Dorshimer scored a game-high of 21 points coupled with three rebounds and three assists. Dorshimer was 5-7 in free throws and 7-18 for shots on the court. This is the first 20 point performance for the guard this season and the 17th as a Bullet.
Monday’s accolade brings the junior to a total of three Centennial Conference Player of the Week honors in her career.
This season, Dorshimer has averaged 14.3 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. Only 120 points stand in her way of the prestigious 1,000 point mark.
Senior forward and captain Emily Gibbons has also contributed much to the team’s success in its first three games.
Gibbons was named Centennial Conference Co-Player of the Week after her most valuable player performance at the Mary Washington Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 14.
Gibbons, who was named a D3hoops.com All-American last season and selected to the Pre-Season All-American Second team this season, averaged 20.5 points and 19 rebounds during the tournament.
She first scored 29 points and secured 22 rebounds to help the women’s basketball team triumph in their game against Lehman College.
Then, against Virginia Wesleyan University, Gibbons blocked the potential game-tying shot, again proving herself an important contributor to the team.
Gibbons has averaged 16.3 points per game, 18.67 rebounds per game and has a 54.41 field goal percentage.
As a whole, the women’s basketball team is pleased with the early success and aims to maintain it as the season progresses.
“I think the team has a lot of potential and I’m really excited for this season,” said senior guard Kendra Meredith in a season preview interview with Gettysburg College Athletics.
Meredith also praised the coaching staff and credited them with the team’s high expectations going into the season.
“I think he [Coach Davis] wants to set us up for success. He really cares about us and is willing to go the extra mile,” she said. “Our coaching staff wants us to see a better version of ourselves and reach our full potential.”
Meredith, a transfer from division II Southern Connecticut State University, joined the team last season, and is a top starter for the team.
Gibbons, in the same interview, echoed Meredith’s sentiments on the coaching staff: “I think they are very knowledgeable, they are doing what they need to do to help us be successful and be prepared for the season.”
While the team does have these three prominent upperclassmen, it is also supported by 11 underclassmen. The youth will prove crucial to the team’s progression.
The Lady Bullets next face Washington College in Bream Gym at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Gibbons will be awarded her 1,000-point ball, which she earned last February in a game against Johns Hopkins University.
