Can Providence Friars women's basketball team make some magic of their own this season?
NEW YORK — Providence’s women were close enough to reach out and touch the basketball excitement on campus last year.
Ed Cooley and his men authored a breakthrough to the Sweet 16. Their run to a first Big East regular season title came with sellout crowds downtown and formal sendoffs for March Madness trips to Buffalo and Chicago.
Can the other group of Friars produce something similar in the near future? Providence was selected eighth at the women’s portion of the conference’s media day Tuesday morning. Cranston native Janai Crooms was picked to the all-league team at Madison Square Garden after a strong 2021-22 campaign.
“I’m happy for them, but there’s a little bit of jealousy,” Providence guard Kylee Sheppard said. “I want to be in that spot. It makes you work harder and want to get there this year.”
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Sheppard was one of six returning sophomores who earned regular playing time last season. Crooms and her fellow veterans – Iowa transfer Logan Cook, Florida transfer Brynn Farrell, senior wing Lauren Sampson, junior guard Grace Efosa – can only hope that experience pays dividends over the next five months. The Friars closed 11-19 overall and dropped their final five games, including a loss to Georgetown at the conference tournament.
“The freshmen played a lot last year,” Crooms said. “They got some experience under their belts. I could see them playing a lot this year and carrying over what they learned.”
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Crooms spent time at Ohio State and Michigan State before continuing her career at home. She topped Providence in scoring, rebounding, assists per game and steals per game while starting all but one of the club’s 30 contests. Crooms can bully opposing guards with her strength and dance her way around waiting post players — she hit double figures 24 times last season.
“Just being more confident,” Crooms said when asked for her goals this season. “Getting myself open and doing the best for my teammates and what they need. Just finding my shot, getting to the basket and putting my team in a position where we can win.”
Sheppard finished second on the team in scoring and made 3-pointers despite missing 10 games due to injury. She looks a likely starter along with sophomore forward Olivia Olsen, who averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds operating largely as a reserve. The Friars are hoping to hit the .500 mark for the first time since going 19-16 and reaching the WNIT in 2018-19.
“After those few Big East games you kind of get a feel for how competitive it is,” Sheppard said. “The scouting report, all that stuff – you get used to it.”
Connecticut assumed its traditional favorite’s role despite the absence of Paige Bueckers — she won’t play this season after suffering a torn ACL in her left knee at practice. Top-five recruit Ayanna Patterson is the league's Preseason Freshman of the Year and the trio of Caroline Ducharme, Aaliyah Edwards and Azzi Fudd joined Crooms on the all-conference team.
Creighton was picked second and Villanova slotted in third with Preseason Player of the Year Maddy Siegrist. She set a new conference scoring record last year by averaging 27.9 points across 17 league games – the old mark had stood since 1991-92. DePaul and Seton Hall tied for fourth, Marquette was tabbed for sixth and St. John’s sat in front of Providence in seventh.
Butler and Georgetown tied for ninth and Xavier was picked last to round out the poll. The Bluejays and Pirates were the only teams outside the Huskies with multiple preseason honorees. Lauren Jensen and Emma Ronsiek were named all-conference with Morgan Maly honorable mention for Creighton — Sidney Cooks and Lauren Park-Lane were both all-conference for Seton Hall.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: PC women's basketball selected to finish 8th at Big East media day
