Rider set to battle in Brown Classic

By Cristiana Votta

Heading into the Brown Classic, the Broncs take on Brown (2-3) on Saturday and either Quinnipiac (3-0) or New Hampshire (3-1) on Sunday, depending upon the outcome of their game.

Each opponent brings something different for the Broncs to concentrate on heading into the weekend.

“When you’re playing in a tournament, a big focus is on us as a team and how we’re doing things,” Head Coach Lynn Milligan said. “The first game against Brown we will have a bit more prep time. We have two days of practice to get ready for them. They run a lot of movement, but they don’t have a true center. We need to make sure we are able to defend them.”

Milligan feels that the Broncs will have to focus on a few of the strategies Quinnipiac uses if they are to play them in the next round.

“Quinnipiac is more of a dribble, drive, attack kind of team,” Milligan said. “Each of the opponents is going to be different in a certain way. If we focus on us, I think we are going to be OK.”

Coming off of a few negative results, the Broncs look to make some improvements in order to walk away with a couple of victories this weekend.

“I don’t think we will make any major changes,” Milligan said. “We may mix up our lineup a little bit, maybe put in a few new players and change up our guard line and see how that works.”

The Broncs are looking to improve on their current non-conference record and find a flow in their game.

“Even though our record really isn’t what it should be right now, we all have a common goal and we are there for each other and pushing each other, which is making us better,” senior center Caitlyn Bopp said.

Milligan feels that the Broncs are beginning to settle into their roles.

“We haven’t started the way we wanted to, but the older group is starting to get their flow,” Milligan said. “They’ve gotten us in sync and they’re helping some of the younger girls along the way. I think if this continues, we will see some positive results and big differences in some things we will be doing.”

The Brown Classic is an invitational that is held every year. If it fits into the Broncs’ schedule, they typically like to attend, according to Milligan.

“We like to play in tournaments as much as we can because it gives you a little bit of a championship feel,” she said. “You know, you go away for the weekend looking to win a championship.”

Bopp pointed out that the Broncs’ aim is simple.

“The main goal is just to win, bottom line,” Bopp said.