By Steven Rowell/Staff Writer
One question that has constantly surrounded the women’s basketball team for next season has been who will step into the leading role that will be left once senior guard Jerica Coley graduates after this season.
Sophomore guard Taylor Shade might be called upon to provide even more punch from the perimeter next season. So far this season, the Boynton Beach native has shown the ability to produce.
While Shade saw very little playing time as a freshman she has made strides in her second season especially knowing that Head Coach Cindy Russo wanted Shade to become a major scorer this year.
Shade is averaging just short of nine points per game and so far has reached double figures in 11 games this season including two different times of scoring figures for four consecutive games. Shade also posted a career high of 26 points in a victory at Florida Atlantic University on Jan. 15.
“I think Taylor [Shade] is doing a good job for us, this year she has really stepped in and provided an offensive punch for us,” Assistant Coach Lindsay Bowen said. “She can penetrate, shoot the three, and has a nice little pullup jump shot and it helps out to relieve some of the pressure off Jerica [Coley].”
While Bowen has liked what Shade has brought on the court, she also has been impressed with Shade’s dedication to being a student of the game.
“She is always trying to learn, she has come into my office to watch film with me and we sent film to her and that is huge,” Bowen said.
Shade might be called upon to step into that leader role next season and Bowen sees the potential of Shade being able to fill that role.
“I think she will definitely have to play a bigger role next year, she will be a junior, she’s knows the system, the culture, how we play and have to step up and play minutes at the point guard and shooting guard,” Bowen said.
Shade feels confident in stepping into that role should she be called upon to become more of a leader and is using this season learning from Coley to prepare herself for the possibility of taking on a leader’s role next season.
“I don’t think I would have any problem adjusting to it, but as of late I have been a secondary leader, just trying to listen to Jerica [Coley] and then feeding off of her and helping my other teammates on the floor,” Shade said. “So I don’t think it would be a pretty hard adjustment I think I would fly into that position pretty well”
Shade also plans to improve on her conditioning over the upcoming offseason to prepare for next year.
“Conditioning first things first because I know probably next year I will have to play 40 minutes,” Shade said.
With Shade possibly becoming FIU’s main threat from the perimeter for next season and also the return of senior center Marita Davydova next year, both Shade and Bowen have likened the idea of the two forming an inside-outside tandem.
“I’m actually really really excited that Marita [Davydova] is coming back, she brings a lot of experience and a lot of skill set to our post-game,” Shade said. “She’ll help me out a lot in pick and rolls and getting other post players ready to play.”
“I think that will be a nice little one-two punch, you have Taylor [Shade] running point guard, shooting three’s and attacking and creating looks for Marita [Davydova], “ Bowen said. “Marita is tough on the boards and also step out and shoot the three, I think with both of them it will be a nice balance for the team,” Bowen said.
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