MACKENZIE SMITH / CONTRIBUTOR

The USD women’s basketball team opened their season on Nov. 3 with a home matchup against Bethesda University — a game memorable less for its competitiveness and more for its unusual circumstances. Bethesda arrived with only five players total, a large difference from their typical roster of 14. Most of the team had been wiped out by a stomach virus, and although one player tried to fight through, she only made it to the second quarter before ultimately leaving. This resulted in the contest shifting from a standard 5-on-5 to an unexpected 5-on-4 matchup. In order to have a complete game there needs to be five players from each team on the court, with at least two subs, but even with the unusual circumstances the game continued. 

Bethesda competes in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) whereas USD competes in the more    competitive   NCAA Division  I   West  Coast   Conference making it difficult to predict how well Bethesda would have  done  if they had  a full roster. Despite the imbalance, both teams played with determination, but the Toreros quickly took control and ultimately secured a dominant victory to start their season on a high note. 

The win served as a strong start to  the  season. However, the lack of substitutes and uneven matchup in the game made for a very slow start to the season. While USD performed well, the ease of the competition offered limited insight into how the team could perform against different opponents.

Nov. 5 USD traveled up the coast for their second game against the University of California, Irvine. This game offered USD the opportunity to play in a more competitive atmosphere ending with a final score of 54-72. 

Olivia Owens, a USD first-year, reflected on the game.

“I think for a lot of us it was our first experience playing college basketball. To be honest I was a little nervous.” Owens said. “It was a good learning experience for us. We got exposed to areas we could work on and also things we do really well at.”

Having a stronger, more evenly matched opponent forced the team to adjust to a faster level of play and reflect on how they could  improve.  The  match  offered valuable insight and allowed the team to properly assess their strengths and weaknesses.

On Nov. 13, the Toreros hosted Arizona State University (ASU) on USD’s home court. The game ended with a 47-79 loss, yet the stadium had an incredibly exciting atmosphere, much different from their previous home game against Bethesda. USD  worked hard and managed to keep  up  with ASU during the first quarter, ending the period with a score of 12-21. But as the game progressed, ASU found their rhythm — repeatedly knocking down shots from the three point line and widening the gap. 

Despite the loss, the game kept the audience engaged. The stadium was vibrant with students, families and younger athletes from around the community. 

Mckenzie McMoore, a USD first-year, commented on the energy in the stadium.

“ASU is a bigger team so you definitely felt the energy from both sides. You have ASU pushing at USD and USD pushing right back,” Mcmoore said. “The atmosphere for this game was a lot more intense and you had more motivation to get up on your  feet and cheer.” Part of what fueled the intensity of this game is ASU’s reputation as a member of the Power Four conferences giving them significantly more resources, facilities and recruiting reach than smaller programs like USD. Going head-to-head with a higher ranking team tested the Toreros in ways the earlier games had not. But rather than discouraging the team, the Torero’s used this as motivation  to  play  hard  and  focus their attention on improving. 

Owens reflected on the team’s mindset.

“At the beginning of the season there’s going to be lots of highs, lots of lows so it’s about focusing on ourselves and making sure we’re getting better every single day,” Owens said. 

As the season continues, the women’s   basketball team remains committed to improvement, both on and off the court. From building chemistry and strengthening  communication to  refining  their game strategies, the Toreros are embracing every challenge as a chance to develop.

Looking ahead, the Toreros return to their home court on Nov. 24 for a matchup against New Mexico State University, offering another chance to showcase their progress.

USD women’s basketball takes on Arizona State University in the JCP.n Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Smith