FMU women’s hoops on the right track

After covering my first Francis Marion women’s basketball game of the year, I was impressed by the impact Heather Macy has had on the program.
The first-year coach has the Patriots off to a 15-2 start, ranked in the top 25 and leading the Peach Belt conference standings. Macy, who turned a Pfeiffer program in three years, is on her way restoring a once-proud Patriot program, which hasn’t won a conference tournament crown since 1998.
Even Macy has been a little surprised by the start, saying after Saturday’s win over North Georgia, “I didn’t think it would come this quick.”
Macy overhauled the roster, bringing in 10 new players, most of which were transfers. The newcomers, along with holdovers Brittany Young and Creshenda Singletary, have been a perfect fit for Macy’s style of play, which includes full-court pressure defense and fast break offense.
It’s definitely a fun style of basketball to watch even if you aren’t a big fan of women’s basketball.
People are starting to fill up the Smith University Center and attendance at women’s games is almost double than last season. Saturday’s crowd was into the game and the student section brought an energy that has been lacking in recent years.
Macy and her club are appreciative of the support as the players went and up down the aisles shaking hands with the fans. The players also signed autographs in the lobby for kids for 30 minutes after the game was over.
There is still plenty of basketball left to go and the Patriots might not end up making winning a conference title this year or make the Division II tournament.
But one thing is sure – the school made the right call in bringing Macy to FMU and Patriots will be a factor for years to come.

Log In | Register as a new member