Elgin Community College women’s basketball has started off the season with a horrible 2-4 record. However, the team still has hopes for the season.

Their first win came on Nov. 3 when they beat Harper at home with a final score of 69-41.

Their next win came in a big time blowout on Dec. 1, in Chicago against Wright College with the final score of 70-24 but three games haven’t been so nice to the Spartans.

Losses came against Bryant & Stratton College. Triton and Milwaukee Area Tech were large margin losses as well.

With the highest points scored this year being 74 while the lowest amount of points being 41 in the first game of the season.

However, head coach Jerry McLaughlin believes that the team is getting better even though their record shows otherwise.

“We’re getting better each week, we just lost a tough game the other night but we did score 70 points so that’s the most we have scored this year. All of the freshman are getting better you can just tell with the improvement with playing time, more experience the team will gel,” McLaughlin said.

However, one thing he does want to change that is out of his control is having more than eight players on his team.

“We also have to avoid injuries, we need to make sure everyone’s grades are eligible for two semesters at ECC, and another thing that I am looking for is consistency in our scoring. The other night we shot 63 percent 17 for 27, but that wasn’t good enough,” McLaughlin said. “If we would have shot 70% we probably would have won the game, so we gave up 10 points there, we missed some real easy lay-ups, so that cost us. So overall all the little things add up.”

McLaughlin also commented on how communication could be the key to their success.

“Talking on offense and defense is something that I am looking for, talking and commentating is something that could make us better as a team. But overall more consistency is what I am looking for this season,” McLaughlin said.

One player that believes that this season has been both up and down is second year player Tricia Dumoulin.

‘So far I would say that we definitely have our strides, we are getting closer to the point where we’re becoming a good team, we always have girls that try hard out there and just give their best effort,” Dumoulin said.

Her sister, Nikki Dumoulin, also believes this team is looking good as well.

“I feel like every game we played we have done something better and we are improving each and every game, every practice we are doing something better,” Dumoulin said.

The newcomers to the team have also been playing really well and Dumoulin talked about them a little, also.

“They are fun to have on the team, we have quite the unique group, we definitely have girls that work really really well and it’s really nice to see that,” Dumoulin said.

Her sister Nikki who’s in her first year at ECC thinks the games here compared to high school is a lot different.

“It’s a lot faster of a game. I mean basketball is basketball, but now it’s another level you’re playing girls who are bigger, faster, and better. It’s different but it’s a nice feeling,” Dumoulin says.

McLaughlin added on by saying “It’s a much more physical game then in high school, there are more fouls but we really haven’t had much foul trouble so far this year.”

Like with every team there are things that you can change and with this team and they all believe they can change things within themselves.

Dumoulin says that there are some things she can change with her own play.

“Ball control is one thing I can change, also calming myself down is one thing I should probably work on as well,” Dumoulin said.

First year player Arely Ramos also believes that there are things she can change inside herself with her play.

“For me personality what I just have to work on is being more confident and gain experience and use that experience to just help me and be more confident that I know what to do,” Ramos said.

Overall, the team believes that they can turn this disappointing first part of the season around. The next games happen on Dec. 6. against Olive-Harvey and Dec 10. against Carl Sandberg.