The SUNY New Paltz women's basketball team didn't know what to expect from its competition when it headed down to Trinidad and Tobago July 25. However, from the opening tip of its first contest, the Hawks quickly realized the play was going to be quite different than what it was used to in the State University of New York Athletic Conference.
Although basketball isn't a predominant sport in Trinidad and Tobago, Netball, which features a net, but no backboard and is played 7-on-7, is one of the country's most popular.
The Hawks adjusted to their oppositions' style and physicality, fought through the elements of a blazing hot gym and went unscathed through three tough games, while getting solid production from their 10 returners.
"I was told [Trinidad and Tobago] women's basketball isn't going to be very strong," said SUNY New Paltz coach
Jamie Seward. "They were 25, 30-year old women that played internationally in Netball, and basketball being a similar sport they were much better than I thought. They were big, strong athletic girls. So it was much better than I expected."
With fouls scarcely called, and at a size disadvantage in all of their match ups, it forced the Hawks to play grittier than what is normally allowed in SUNYAC action.
"I think playing the girls in Trinidad was such an eye opener because they were big, strong women," said rising sophomore
Paige Niemeyer. "They were definitely skilled and I think it was such a great experience for us to be more rough and be more physical. The ref's weren't calling as much down there — which I liked, personally — but it kind of pushed us past our comfort zones a little bit."
SUNY New Paltz came out flat in its first match up against Brian Chase Academy, but after the first quarter the Hawks regrouped and took pride in representing not only their school, but their country as well.
"When we came out that first game I just think we weren't ready to play," said rising junior guard
Lindsay Bettke. "We were in that vacation mindset and we lost sight of why we were really there. But that first quarter was definitely a wake up call. We brought everyone in and even fans during the game they were like this might be the only time we get to see U.S.A basketball, so let's show them how we do it. So a sense of pride overcame us and then we picked it up after that first quarter."
SUNY New Paltz bounced back to have a dominating 54-36 victory with Bettke (10 points), Neymeyer (11),
Maddie Van Pelt (10) and
Marion Dietz (12) leading the way.
The Hawks then defeated Trinidad Police Force in a tight game, 56-54, in their next outing and concluded the week with a commanding 73-38 victory.
But arguably their toughest competition came on Day 1 during their first practice. Seward set up an impromptu pick-up scrimmage with a few men playing on the court, who, as it turned out, were a part of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force.
"It was really interesting because we walked in the gym and they were playing pick-up against another team. They were all big guys, all really good. And then coach [Seward] comes over and was like, 'I'm going to see if they want to scrimmage,'" Niemeyer recalled. "They only had five [players] but they were in really great shape. It was just a great opportunity for us. They were bigger than us, stronger than us but I thought we really held our own against them… In the spur of the moment it was just really fun."
It was the first of many unforgettable memories for the Hawks. Whether it was volunteering at the Brian Chase Basketball Academy, visiting Tobago's largest waterfall, or swimming in a bat cave, everything was done as a team.
"I think we all learned something about ourselves and about our team," Bettke said. "I think we have grown as a team and really bonded. I think that will really carry over on to the court, because we feel that more connected as teammates."
A highlight for Bettke was also watching Dietz, a "Plain Jane" when it comes to food, trying different cuisines over the course of the trip. The Hawks recorded each of her meals and dubbed the segment, "Meals with Marion."
"We made her try all these foods and honestly as a person, even though it was silly, I think she kind of grew and opened her mind to do new things," Bettke added.
It had been six years since The SUNY New Paltz women's basketball team made a trip overseas, and the bonds formed could give them an edge heading into its season where it is looking to defend its SUNYAC title for the third consecutive year.
"We did a couple domestic trips since then and there's nothing that compares to the experience traveling overseas in the summer time," Seward said. "At a basketball standpoint you get a head start. You get to practice for some time before you leave and then you get your team to play and practice together, be together in anticipation for the upcoming season.
"It is one thing to travel and be together for two days, but to do it for eight or nine and do it in a foreign country and doing things that maybe otherwise you're scared of, I think it's a season's worth of bonding that you get that team building that you get."
Along with its 10 returners, seniors
Kit Small,
Morgan Roessler and
Courtney Irby also joined SUNY New Paltz on the trip. The three have been a staple of the program for the past four seasons and are among the best to ever suit up for the Hawks. For Seward, he said the trip was a nice send off.
"The three seniors worked a bunch of volunteer camps and things to raise money and we really felt that they deserved the opportunity," he said. "They were huge for what they did for our program across their careers so it was nice to be able to give them that cherry on top of their career."
With Small, Roessler and Irby playing limited minutes this summer it forced players such as Bettke, Niemeyer, Van Pelt and
Sandi Harris to step up into larger roles and they, according to Seward, were all pleasant surprises on the court.
"They really have taken their game to another level with the losses that we have in this senior class," he said. "We need that. We have hoped in the offseason that they can make it to that point, but they showed they that they are on that track. Hopefully, they can keep doing that."
The Hawks came back stateside on August 1 and are ready to build off their productive offseason. With expectations high, they are hoping to take their experiences from their summer excursion over to their upcoming season.
"Coming home from the trip all I could think was, 'I cannot wait to get back on the court with these girls,'" Niemeyer said. "I think going into this season having a team that has bonded this much it is going to be great.
"If we can get through that 100 degree gym, get through playing against those girls then nothing can stop us… We were all dripping sweat but I couldn't tell you a time where I felt like we were fading. I think we were in good shape for it… Literally, I think if we can play in that gym we can play in any gym."
