SCRANTON, Pa. — The Lady Royals reached the Elite 8 last year under 2nd year head coach Ben O'Brien. And then lost to New York University in that round. This team is hungry for more.
Following a 28-3 season (16-2) and another Landmark Conference Title, the team returns many of their key players and are looking to go dancing again.
“Unfinished business is something that comes to mind,” said head coach, Ben O’Brien. “Certainly, we had a very successful season last year, but we're looking to build on it. You know, we're looking to learn from what happened last year and we're looking for more this year,” O’Brien said.
All American junior guard, Kaci Kranson, returns in the back court for the Lady Royals, Kranson was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. Team captain’s Allie Lynch and Kyra Quigley are also back for their graduate student season’s.
“Every season's new, though,” said O’Brien. “None of the points that we scored last year are going to count this year. So, we're starting fresh, but a lot of familiar faces. Maybe some roles changing, but we're excited and we're looking forward to it.”
O’Brien enters his third season leading the team. He has a 56-4 overall record, back-to-back Landmark Conference titles, and a Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearance on his record in those two years. The team believes in his ability to lead them back to the NCAA DIII Tournament and push them even farther.
“He is such a great motivational speaker. So, like, him and his pep talk before games just really pumps us up,” said Kranson. “He's just great with like the mental aspect of the game…scheduling really tough and competitive teams for us in the preseason and the non-conference games. I really feel that will help us grow as individuals and as a team collectively,” Kranson said.
The team also welcomes five incoming freshman who they’re still figuring out roles for at this point in the preseason.
“We've definitely accomplished a lot in the past and even this year alone, we've made great strides,” said Romanowski. “But there's always something left to do knowing what we did last year and what a special group we have this year to take it even farther. We're just, we're unfinished business,” she said.
The Lady Royals begin their season at home on Monday, Nov. 11th at 6:00 p.m. against Cortland.