This week we have 5 campus celebrities! Her Campus Bryant wants to recognize the 5 ladies on the women’s basketball team for all of their hard work and dedication to the team and our school for the past 4 years! We were lucky enough to interview 4 of the 5 girls this week! Check out what they had to say about their time at Bryant and the upcoming playoff game against St. Fransis!
Stephanie Cardamone (SC)
Courtney Schissler (CS)
Naana Ankoma-Mensa (NA-M)
Meredith Soper (MS)
HC: When did you start your basketball career?
SC: I started playing basketball in fifth grade on a rec team, I was originally a soccer gal (soccercutie27xo was my AIM name)
CS: I started playing basketball when I was in the 5th grade for the recreation and travel leagues for my hometown back in Branford, Connecticut
NA-M: My basketball career started at the small age of 9. Prior to that I wanted to be the new addition to the Serena and Venus Williams family AKA I played tennis with beads in my hair and ran track. I was also maybe 5’8 in 2nd grade so it only made sense to start basketball.
MS: I started my basketball career at the age of 7. I was introduced to basketball through my town’s recreation center then started playing AAU at the age of 9.
HC: How would you describe your experience at Bryant?
SC: My experience has been overall good – a lot of ups and downs with my team, sometimes we struggled and other times we were extremely successful. Out of everything we have been through it has only made us stronger and closer and there are no other girls I would rather have experienced it with.
CS: My experience at Bryant has been nothing but positive. Bryant has prepared me for a successful future, taught me to be a better person, learn different ways to overcome the obstacles in my life and most importantly it is leaving me with an outstanding degree and friendships that will last a life time.
NA-M: Definitely a roller coaster but the best kind. You know the ones where you line up for hours to get on and when you finally do, you look around for your friends and smile at them because they aren’t sitting beside you because a creepy bald man is so it makes you super nervous. Once they give that “all clear” and the ride starts to go up, you are scared and freaking out thinking “wow I’m basically alone, I’m going to die and this is going to be Final Destination 2 in real life”. Then you see that big drop and you are like “well this is it…death to me” and as it starts but you don’t want to close your eyes because you want to view the whole thing in its entirety and…… OMG this is amazing! The loops and spins and speed is all so great! THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER!!! Then you slow down and you are like “wait its stopping? Why is it stopping!??” and you have Senior Week and Senior Ball and then you get your diploma.
MS: Long! But so worth it. I feel like it’s been such a growing experience. Coming in as just a freshman, and now being a fifth year, I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to finish my career on a high note. This year’s season has been so successful and I’m grateful to have played with this great group of girls.
HC: What has been your favorite memory with the team thus far?
SC: A LOT of great memories (some in basketball and some outside of it) the game against St. Francis PA this year when we won at the buzzer – everyone was ecstatic that was one of the greatest wins I was a part of in my entire career … winter session last year was a lot of fun (so many activities) and any time we are all hanging out as a team I really enjoy because we’re all crazy people and make boring situations interesting.
CS: My favorite memory thus far has to be becoming the most successful team the division one program has ever had. I guess you can say my memory has lasted since the beginning of the season and is continuing until that very last game.
NA-M: I don’t think I have one favorite memory but I definitely have about three. Winter session my freshman year when we were so bored and so lonely at school that we took our mattresses from hall 15 and carried them behind Salmo hill and made this mini ramp. We would drag the matt to the top of the hill and sled down it but because of the ramp, you would fly in the air. We were throwing each other in the snow and jumping around for hours. This year winter session as well when we went to laser tag and the bouncy house was one of the happiest times we’ve had. Probably the lowest key would be just going to hotels on weekends and watching shark tank and 20/20.
MS: My favorite memory with the team would be road trips for away games. We’ve had so many laughs and great team talks just sitting around in the hotel rooms. My experience wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have such great teammates who I could also call some of my best friends.
HC: What words would you like to leave behind as your basketballcareer comes to an end?
SC: Words to leave behind ……. it’s very bittersweet because on one hand I will finally have the opportunity to be a normal student – something I haven’t been for the past 8 years of my life – on the other hand I’ll be done playing the game that has shaped me into the person I now am which is both depressing and scary to me because the one thing that has been constant in my life will now be gone ….. so words I would leave behind would be two pieces of advice to my fellow teammates: 1) even while you’re dying on the track and hating life in court workouts, cherish every moment you have left. I already miss basketball and I’m not even done yet. and 2) never be afraid to fail … I was and I regret this a lot every day.
CS: Some words I would like to leave behind to future players is to never give up. There are going to be many hardships that you are going to have to overcome throughout the program but I promise you that you will have the best teammates you could ask for not only going through the same thing you are but to help you along the journey. I can truly say there is no way I would of made it these last four years without the four other seniors by my side and I am so thankful that they will be my sisters for life.
NA-M: Words I would leave behind for students would be that nothing lasts forever so there’s no need to act like it does. That test you have or that person you don’t like, in a semester or two it won’t even matter. Take the time to get to know people and enjoy every day no matter how stressed out you are or how tired you are. Oh and really try in school it helps when you are a senior because then you can relax a little bit.
Words I would leave behind to my teammates would be no matter how exhausted, how stressed, how sad or how thirsty you are it will get better. Work to your full potential every day and don’t let any other person on that court scare you. You are here playing Division 1 basketball for a reason, prove to the world what that reason is and be the best player that you can be!
MS: I would tell my younger teammates to always make sure you’re having fun! No matter if we’re running sprints or just going through a tough practice, stay positive and stay together. Time flies, so make it count while you still have the chance to be a part of something so great.
HC: What are your thoughts going into the conference playoffs againstSt. Francis?
SC: My thoughts would be LET’S KICK SOME BOOOTAY. But seriously we’re a very talented team that has a serious chance to not only win the NEC championship but also make it to the NCAA tournament … so my thoughts are just to concentrate on staying focused, performing, and trusting my teammates and I have no doubt that together we can succeed.
CS: I am nothing but excited. St. Francis NY always gives us an exciting game but I think as a team our strength, dedication, and hard work will triumph theirs. The Northeast Conference tournament is everything that we worked for the entire season and we are not settling for anything else but winning that ring in the championship game.
NA-M: My thoughts are BULLDOGS? WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION???? (sorry team inside joke) but definitely that we need to come out hard and strong, not be afraid and just play Bryant Basketball because when we do that, we are a force to be reckoned with!
MS: I feel confident! Although I won’t be playing due to an ankle injury, I have faith in my teammates and I can’t wait to cheer them on Sunday and throughout the rest of our playoff run. We’ve all worked so hard to get this first home game and I know the girls will play their hearts out.