Losing is not an option
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Ahh, memories.
But this was one memory Florida State University sophomore guard and Butler graduate Olivia Bresnahan would have preferred not to re-live.
The Seminoles' women's basketball team finished 14-17 this season, ending a streak of seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
It marked the first losing basketball team Bresnahan played on since fourth grade.
“That's when we started the Western PA Ballers and we won something like two games all year,” Bresnahan said. “We were terrible. It was so bad, we made our coach cry.”
No such tears will be shed by Florida State coach Sue Semrau, who believes she's solved the team's biggest problem.
Semrau dismissed her starting point guard from the team during the 2011-12 season for undisclosed reasons and had to move her scoring guard to the point as a result.
“Our point guard situation really hurt us,” Semrau said. “We lost 10 games in the final four minutes. When quality teams pressed us, we couldn't handle it.
“We didn't have that player who thrived at having the ball in her hands to beat that type of pressure.”
Now they do.
Former Auburn point guard Morgan Toles, who led the Southeastern Conference with 5.15 assists per game last year, transferred to Florida State this year and was ruled eligible for the Seminoles' final seven games.
She was released by Auburn after suffering concussions last year, but is now medically cleared to play.
“I can't wait,” Semrau said. “She will make a big difference in us.”
She hopes Bresnahan will do the same.A starter at wing for the final few games this year, Bresnahan also served as her team's backup point guard and will likely be No. 2 at that position next year. She may be a starter at wing as well.“Nobody knows what the lineup will be like next year,” Bresnahan said. “Nobody is guaranteed a spot.“All I know is how much I hate losing. At this level, you can never be satisfied with any phase of your game. I'm always working to get better.”Bresnahan averaged 21.9 minutes per game this season — up 10 minutes from her freshman campaign — tallying 68 rebounds, 59 assists and 24 steals.On the down side, she suffered 67 turnovers and sank just 18 of 36 free throws for 50 percent.“Point guard is not Olivia's natural position here,” Semrau said. “She got a lot of experience there last year, though, and it made her a better player.“She definitely has a chance to start for us at wing. She's a lockdown defensive player because of the way she's put together and her good speed.”Bresnahan said she plans to improve her turnover and assist numbers.“How well I improve in the off-season will determine my spot,” she said. “I want to be the one to guard the opponent's best player. I need to become more effective on offense, too, penetrate more and improve my mid-range jumper.”Semrau hopes to get more offense out of Bresnahan.“Shooting the ball and hitting that pull-up jumper ... We want that from her,” Semrau said.The biggest thing the Seminoles want is a return to the NCAA Tournament.“That's where this program belongs. We'll accept nothing less,” Semrau insisted.“We had a lot of shuffling around with players last year, myself included,” Bresnahan said. “We weren't comfortable with each other.“Now we are — and we can't wait to get out on the court next year and show what we can do.”
