When Laura Crowley tore her ACL just after transferring to Washington University two years ago, it looked like a long-shot that she would ever be able to contribute to the team. Yet there she was last Sunday, swishing seven three-pointers against Brandeis to lead the Bears to a 91-63 rout. In her second year on the court for WU, Crowley has become one of the team’s senior leaders, providing a shining example of hard work during games and in practice.
“Laura spends so much time in the gym practicing, and takes enough shots, that I’m not surprised at all by that game,” said head coach Nancy Fahey. “She really puts in the time that is necessary to have that type of performance. I think in the time she’s been here that her work ethic and leadership have really added something to our team. You can just see that in her when she’s out there giving 100 percent every practice.”
Crowley and the other Bears will need to be at their best in order to remain unbeaten at home this weekend. At first glance, Emory, which WU plays Friday, would appear to be a pushover opponent, with a 1-8 UAA record. However, the Eagles defeated 18-2 Rochester on Friday, proving that every conference team is truly capable of winning on any given day. The Bears will have to be careful not to look past Emory or they will risk suffering the same fate as Rochester.
“We don’t look at any opponent as being special; we prepare for each one with the same importance,” said Fahey. “Emory beating Rochester shows that everybody comes to the court to win, and as a result we have to respect every single opponent. We make sure that we avoid looking at records and play hard against every team.”
The Eagles compensate for a relative lack of scoring punch by concentrating on the other side of the ball. “Emory changes their defense a lot,” said Fahey, “and they try to throw other teams off of their rhythm.”
Case Western Reserve University, Sunday’s opponent, will present a contrast in styles to what the Bears will face against Emory. The Spartans, at 4-5 in the UAA, have a formidable offense that will be a tough test for the Bears’ defenders. In the season’s first meeting between the two squads, Case Western poured in 68 points in a losing effort, which stands as the second highest total WU has allowed all year.
“Case Western is a really explosive team that lights it up from the perimeter,” said Fahey. “They have all kinds of good scorers. Emory and Case are very different teams, but they are equally as dangerous.”
Helping the Bears’ cause will be the raucous home crowd that has been turning out for recent games. The student group RED ALERT has done an excellent job of rounding up fans to attend games and help cheer WU to victory.
The team is certainly appreciative of the added fan support.
“We’re all so excited about the great attendance,” said Fahey. “It means so much to have that real home court-feeling out there that the fans provide. I hope they all enjoy the games, because we certainly appreciate their presence. Other teams that visit here have talked a lot about it. It’s one of the most exciting things I’ve seen at WU in the 17 years that I’ve been here.”