Sheana Mosch enters this season at the halfway point of her Duke career. After two years as a complementary player, the junior co-captain will now be expected to help fill the tremendous scoring and leadership voids left after the graduation of first team Kodak All-American Georgia Schweitzer.
Mosch acknowledges how important it is for this year's Duke squad to quickly compensate for the absent Schweitzer.
"Georgia was our leader," she said. "She carried us, and we are definitely going to miss her. We are all going to have to step up and assume her roles."
During her first two seasons, Mosch posted solid scoring numbers, averaging 9.0 and 10.7 points respectively, certainly good stats for a team's third scoring option.
Yet, in one four-game stretch in ACC competition last year, Mosch caught fire to score a Duke-record 106 points, including outbursts of 29 points against archrival North Carolina, and 30 points against then-No. 15 Clemson.
Her scoring explosion coincided with the absence of teammate Alana Beard--a preseason Naismith player of the year candidate this season--and ended promptly upon Beard's return from injury.
As she begins her third year in a Blue
"I think Alana and I are working fine together so far early in practice," Mosch said. "It's still early, so we have a lot of improvements to make, but so far we are doing fine."
Although she acknowledges that her scoring rose dramatically during Beard's injury last season, Mosch doesn't want to make scoring her only priority this season.
"Coach doesn't talk to anyone individually to say Oyou need to score this many points,'" Mosch said. "[Alana and I] know that we have the ability to score, and if we are playing up to our potential then we are going to do it. We are scorers, and I think that is one of the main things we bring to this team."
In addition to increasing her scoring load, the normally reserved Mosch also feels that, in her junior season, she should aspire to be a stronger leader.
"One of the main things that is part of being a leader is being vocal and talking to your teammates, encouraging them and helping them out," Mosch said.
During the off-season, Mosch worked very hard, especially physically, in preparation to fill a larger role on her team. Sporting a noticeable increase in muscle tone, Mosch is already seeing dividends from time she spent in the gym, particularly from playing against her team's male practice squad.
"One of the main things I was focused on this summer was hitting the weight room," Mosch said. "I can feel the difference especially against the guys who are a lot bigger and stronger. They can't push me around as easily."
Mosch expects much more from herself this season. Although others point to her scoring aberrations last season as a result of her and Beard's inability to mesh on the court, Mosch feels that her fluctuations were simply a case of her not playing up to her ability.
"During my freshman and sophomore years, I don't think I played as well as I should have," she said. "I feel I underachieved."
Realizing that only two more seasons remain before she graduates, Mosch is determined not to have anymore feelings of regret concerning her personal level of performance.
"The main thing is I just want to play my game, show what I have and play the best that I can possibly play," she said. "Whatever I can do, I want to do it. I don't want to keep falling short."
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