Women's basketball team opens season this weekend in Jacksonville

The Eastern Florida State College women's basketball team will open the regular season this weekend at the Battle on Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville.

The Titans, who are ranked third in the preseason NJCAA Division I poll, will play a couple of games this weekend at the Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Eastern Florida State College will open the season against Southern Crescent Tech on Friday at 2 p.m. Then on Saturday the Titans will play Pensacola State College at 2 p.m.

This year's Titans will have a different look with four sophomores returning from last year's team that won 33 games and won the state title for the first time in school history.

"Totally different, the last couple of years we have had a true center but that is hard to find so this year we have a really great stretch four and she is unbelievable. She does everything for us, but we are a versatile group this year and we are playing a lot faster," Eastern Florida State College women's basketball coach MJ Baker said. "Last year was an unbelievable season, we did things that nobody has ever done at Eastern Florida winning states, a goal and vision since I have gotten here six years ago. It was definitely a nice high ride, but we are back to humility, we have 11 new players only four returners, so as much as last year was great, successful and amazing, we are excited about the fresh start."

After this weekend the Titans will play in two more tournaments against some ranked teams in November.

"We have a really tough schedule, playing the No. 1 team in the nation and the No. 6 team in the nation next weekend, back to back. They are the defending national champions so it will be good for us, we will be tested early and see what we are made of and what we look like," Baker said.

For them to have success early, they will have to lean on the sophomores Amelia Hassett, Martina Narro, Rosa Redondo Sorribes and Kristiana Kulackovska as the freshmen get used to playing college basketball.

"Our four returners set the tone and have set the tone from the start, they lead every drill, every conditioning drill and are going the hardest in the weight room," Baker said. "They are definitely carrying on the torch from last year's team which is good to see and they continue to get better which is how it works for us, we are so developmental that the first year is usually a learning year and the second year you see the fruit and you are definitely seeing the fruit with the returners."

The Titans will be home on Nov. 28 for then home opener against Edward Waters JV at 6 p.m. before the new Citrus Conference begins on Dec. 9.

"We are on the road a lot early, I believe in being road warriors and that is where you bond and face adversity so it is good to face that. We have three tournaments to start the season and we play games back to back which prepares us for states. I think that stamina of reps and that toughness that you can do more than your body thinks you can is really good for us," Baker said.