Andrew Watson ~ Guest Writer
University of Lynchburg’s Women’s basketball team finished their season last Monday as they fell in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament to Ferrum College. The Hornets finished the season with a final record of 7-19.
Although the 2022-2023 season did not lead to a favorable record for the Hornets, the development of the young talent on the squad took precedence.
According to the Lynchburg athletics website, the Hornets had 11 first-year students on their team, accounting for the most in a single class since the records accounted for rosters, dating back to the 2010-2011 season.
Second-year Head Coach Allison Nichols talked about how important development is. She stated, “The team that we were in November and early December is completely different than the team we are now, and that was our goal.”
The Hornets were led by first-year Maddie Nimmo, who averaged 12.5 points per game. This earned the guard Third Team All ODAC Honors in her debut season with the Hornets.
The team finished conference play with a record of 6-12, which was good enough for the young squad to earn the ninth seed in the ODAC tournament, although expectations were fluid this season.
Nichols stated, “Our goal was just to continue to learn the college level, the college game, to learn the league, learn our opponents and just continue to grow each week.”
This mentality was beneficial and led to many highlights throughout the season, such as the Hornets making a program record 15 three-point shots on Jan. 4 against Guilford College.
This hot shooting would continue as the Hornets would win five of their next nine games, ranging from that contest, until Feb. 1 when the Hornets picked up their most important win of the season on the road against cross-town rival Randolph-College.
With the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, the Hornets set their sights on the next season. Nichols stated, “I’m really excited about what we’re building.” Obviously, the experience gained this season will be an important aspect of a successful future for the team.
For more information about the Women’s Basketball team, visit the University of Lynchburg’s athletics website.