Grenfell is a sophomore public relations and management double major and can be contacted at [email protected]

Two games down, many to come. This Saturday is a big day for Drake women’s basketball. When we hit the road for home, that record will show one of two things — a win or a loss.  It’s game week; time to buckle down for the real deal.

With some strong momentum coming off the win against Quincy, things are looking bright for Saturday. Our team overcame a five-point deficit late in the second half to ultimately snatch the ‘W.’ There’s no denying that Quincy gave us a run for our money.  It deserves credit, but we got the job done.  A game like this was something we needed going into our first official game against the University of Illinois at Chicago. We proved to ourselves that winning doesn’t come easy. I’m confident our team will rise to every challenge that comes our way this year. We have the fight to succeed.

UIC is a quick, athletic team that loves to run the floor. Come Saturday, we’ll be strapping on our running shoes.

What’s the bottom line of this week’s game?

Defense.

If we can play with a chip on our shoulder and defend, our offense will take care of itself.  Plenty of film and a good week of practice will give us the confidence to perform.  The game of basketball is all about adjustments, whether that’s through critiquing certain aspects of practice or doing it on the fly in a timeout.  It’s also important to point out that with adjustments comes responding. Execution is crucial. Just as we are a team that has the fight to win games, we are a team that has the ability to respond.

If you compare pure athleticism, UIC has us beat.  Our team focuses on playing hard and being disciplined.  If you ask me, a team with these traits is equally valuable.  Doing the little things right, verses sheer athleticism, can just as easily get the job done.  So what else is it going to take to get the first win of the year? It’s going to take the right attitude.

No matter how cliché the phrase “mind over matter” is, it still resonates with me every time I hear it. It’s unbelievable how powerful the human mind is. Any team that goes into a game timid and scared is more than likely going to lose.  Fearlessness is a big component in any game plan.  We all have a choice. We have the choice to eat right, sleep right and practice right. We have the choice to see every game as an opportunity. We have the choice to simply play hard. The game of basketball is full of choices. What will we choose to do Saturday?

It’s that time. Time to start the season off right.

Upcoming games:

Women’s

Saturday, Nov. 12
@ Illinois-Chicago
Chicago, Ill. 3:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 15
vs Iowa State
Knapp Center 5:05 p.m.

Men’s

Saturday, Nov. 12
vs Northern Iowa
Knapp Center 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 15
vs Iowa State
Knapp Center 8 p.m.