Editor's Note: Back by popular demand. Coming off another historic
season which featured the program's record-14th consecutive regular
season Horizon League championship, as always there is a lot of
anticipation for the next season in Green Bay women's basketball. Every
Thursday throughout the summer, Assistant Director
of Athletics Communications Jill Wunrow will sit down with one player to talk
about the expectations they have for themselves for the upcoming season and
what fans can expect to see from them individually. This week we catch up with senior Stephanie Sension.
Redshirt Senior, Stephanie
Sension (Hopkins, Minn.), 6'3", F
Can you believe your
senior year is finally here? What have your emotions been and has your time
here at Green Bay gone by fast? What kind of emotions have you been feeling
being back here and working out with the team, knowing you're one of five
senior leaders on this team?
"It's gone so fast. I
think back to my freshman year and it has gone unbelievably fast and that's one
thing I think is important to tell the freshmen class that they need to enjoy
every moment and soak up everything. I'm really excited for this year, I think
all five of us seniors are and just seeing what this team can do; we're going
to do some amazing things."
You are one of five
seniors expected to keep the winning tradition going here at Green Bay. Do you
feel the pressure of not having the consecutive conference championship winning
streak ending on your watch?
"As a senior, we don't
want the streak to end on our watch but at the same time we just have small
goals and continue to get better this summer. Right now, we just focus on one
day at a time and keep working and I think great things will happen."
With almost certainty
of having one spot in the starting lineup up for grabs, do you envision
yourself in being in the role of emerging as a solid post player? What are you
doing to prove you deserve to be in the starting lineup?
"This summer is a
really important summer for me. I think proving myself to my teammates, earning
their respect, working hard every day is really important as a senior. If I do
what I can to prove that I have enough respect to play in the starting lineup,
that's what's going to happen."
What have you learned
from the most decorated post player in the history of this program in Julie
Wojta, having the honor of working with her in the post position? Clearly
there's a huge void to fill in the five spot and you'll probably be expected to
step into that role.
"I've learned so many
things from Julie starting in my freshman year. One of the most important
things I've learned from her is working hard all the time. She never stops
working, just keeps pushing through fatigue and I think that's one thing that
I've always struggled with. It's really important that I focus on continuing to
push myself past the point of being uncomfortable."
You'll tip off your
senior campaign with a new head coach, the first different coach you've had
year yet a familiar face to Green Bay basketball. What have you seen from Coach
Borseth so far that has been refreshing and unexpected?
"I, as well as everyone
on the team, is really excited for him to be our coach. I think that him having
the desire to utilize things that we have in the past but also as a team we're
open to what he has in store for us is a great mix. We're excited to start a
new chapter as a team."
What are you most
looking forward to this season?
"I'm honestly looking
forward to our first game, it can't come soon enough. The NCAA Tournament is
always a blast but I don't like to look too far ahead. I'm also looking forward
to a fresh start and seeing what this team can do. We'll be able to achieve
some things no one thought we could do and I think it's going to be an exciting
year."
Last season and even
during your junior campaign we saw spurts of impressive performances like your
five rebounds in eight minutes in last year's NCAA Tournament and the
unforgettable shot you banked at the first-half buzzer in the second round of
the 2010 tournament against Iowa State. Can we expect to see more of those
performances by Stephanie Sension?
"That's one things I
have my teammates hold me accountable for is consistency; its one thing I've
struggled with. I need to continue to work on my consistency during pickup and
lifting every day, both are important."
Is your consistency the
area you think you need the most improvement on or what have you been working
on the most to improve for the 2012-13 season?
"In addition to my
consistency I need to work on improving my defense in order to help out my
team."
Should you have any
free time during the summer months, what do you typically spend your day doing?
"I've been working on
my tan because I tend to be real pale. Otherwise hanging out with my friends
and going out to the beach. In August I'm actually going to Prague, Czech
Republic on a mission trip through the organization, Athletes in Action. It's a
really great opportunity to play basketball and share the gospel with girls
from all over the country playing DI, DII basketball along with players who
have already graduated from college."
Favorite ice cream or
summer treat and why?
"I'm going to give a
shout out to the new frozen yogurt buffet in town. I'm obsessed and I can't
stop going there."
