Banner drops, expectations rise for Lakers

Roosevelt University’s head women’s basketball Coach Robyn Scherr-Wells welcomes the pressure of expectations and wants to take the next step and mark as a team, she said last Saturday as her team dropped the first banner in school history.

While the focus was on celebrating the team making it to nationals last season, Coach Scherr-Wells focus was on the season opener that followed the ceremony.

“Well it's kind of a mixed bag because it’s exciting to celebrate what we did last season. But at the same time we really moved passed last season,” Scherr-Wells said.

“We’re really proud of what we've accomplished. And I hope that our Roosevelt community is very proud of us.”

Scherr-Wells said it’s fun to look back on their magical season, but the team has big goals this year and hopes to come back and repeat. Her excitement for the season has rubbed off on senior guard Casey Davis said the team has been preparing for this moment since the summer.

“Ah, man, we’re very anxious. We’re excited to be here for our first game. … We have been preparing for this since August,” Davis said.

According to rooseveltlakers.com, Davis has been apart of the basketball program since it debuted three years ago. She was recruited by Scherr-Wells and has been through the down years when the team posted only 13 wins.

Davis said it is rewarding to see progress over the years and it feels good for others to honor the team’s success.

“It’s just a great feeling considering where we came from and what we went through to get here,” she said.

Although women’s basketball isn’t as popular as the men’s game, Davis said the Lakers' success is changing that impression.

“I think its does a lot for women’s basketball. … I think it really puts us out there. … I think it will help a lot in general,” she said.

Even though Davis is honored to represent women’s basketball, she said it means more having Roosevelt’s name across her chest.