Jackie Logan/The Veritas News
Women’s basketball is still looking for their first conference win of the season.
Despite winning their first nonconference game of 2014, women’s basketball has lost four consecutive conference games in the new year.
The Lions earned their fourth win of the year against the University of Maine at Presque Isle, 70-61, on Jan. 2.
Since then, women’s basketball has lost one home and two road conference games. Three of the Lions’ four losses have been within six or fewer points.
Women’s basketball lost to Curry, 61-58, on Jan. 2. One week later, the women lost to Wentworth, 61-55. On Saturday, Jan. 11, Western New England defeated ENC, 56-54.
Head Coach Sacha Santimano spoke to the strength of the Commonwealth Coast Conference this year.
“Our conference is ridiculously hard,” Santimano said. “It’s about closing out the games. You can’t settle for 37 minutes or even 39 of the 40 minutes.”
“You have to play for 40 minutes and do all the little things in games,” she added.
Five of the Lions’ six conference losses have come to teams in the top-5 in the conference.
Despite the losses, Santimano has seen improvement in the women’s play this semester.
“For us it’s about getting better daily. We have gotten better from last semester,” she said. “We also have new kids putting in 170 some minutes of the 200 minutes in a game. That’s a lot of new kids having to play together and produce chemistry fast.”
“We are capable and have the ability. We are right there; I hope we can turn the corner soon,” Santimano added.
Women’s basketball, 4-9 (0-6), takes on Salve Regina at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Lahue PE Center.