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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark\u201d is out now!<\/p>\n
Howard Megdal\u2019s newest book is here! \u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar\u201d captures both the historic nature of Clark\u2019s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.<\/p>\n
When Loyola Chicago head coach Allison Guth was recruiting Bessette, her sportsmanship and humility, as well as her skill, versatility, and love for the game stood out. Guth knew that though Bessette\u2019s size, ability and skill set would fit within the Ramblers\u2019 system, they would lead her to success no matter which college she chose to attend.<\/p>\n
As Bessette went through the recruitment process, she realized that she liked the culture of the team and of the Loyola Chicago campus as a whole. She also valued the relationships she had built with the Ramblers\u2019 coaches. Bessette knew that when she left home for college, she would have a second family in Chicago. When she couldn\u2019t go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, she would be surrounded by people who cared about her.<\/p>\n
Due to the timing of her high school graduation, Bessette joined the Ramblers at the end of the summer and missed the team\u2019s eight-week summer session. While she trained and did skill workouts at home, she missed team workouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to be a bit strategic in what I implemented in the summer, so I wasn\u2019t getting too advanced in what we wanted to do,\u201d Guth told The IX Basketball. \u201cSo \u2026 [we were] a little delayed in some of our offensive concepts until Alex got to campus.\u201d<\/p>\n
When she finally got to Chicago, Bessette worked hard to catch up on what she missed.\u00a0She gave herself some grace, remembered that everything takes time and ultimately surprised herself with how far she came out of her shell.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first week was rough \u2026\u201d Bessette said. \u201cI felt like I was terrible at basketball. I was like, \u2018Oof, that\u2019s gonna be a rough year.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven in high school, I struggled with my confidence a little bit \u2026 and when I came here, I was really set mentally on doing my thing and not changing what I\u2019m doing because of, like, if I\u2019m confident or not. And I feel like that really helped me,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
Over time, Bessette\u2019s confidence improved, aided by the belief her coaching staff and teammates had in her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing surrounded by a family that just keeps pushing you to be better every day and puts a lot of faith and trust in you \u2014 it really helps,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Ramblers\u2019 coaching staff and her teammates have also helped Bessette shift how she reacts to failure and her own mistakes. She says they\u2019ve taught her that it\u2019s okay to make a mistake, as long as you\u2019re aware of it and know how to fix it.<\/p>\n
Mercille has seen Bessette set a good example for others through her actions, and knows that if someone on the team doesn\u2019t know how to do something, they can look to Bessette, who is typically doing it correctly and with intensity.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a silent leader,\u201d Mercille said. \u201cShe just does everything well. \u2026 Since she\u2019s a\u00a0 freshman, she doesn\u2019t lead with her voice yet, but she does everything well.\u201d<\/p>\n
By October, Guth told The IX Basketball she thinks Bessette is \u201cthe future of our program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Want even more women\u2019s sports in your inbox?<\/p>\n
Subscribe now to The IX Sports<\/a> and receive our daily women\u2019s sports newsletter covering soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers. That includes Basketball Wednesday from founder and editor Howard Megdal.<\/p>\n Readers of The IX Basketball now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.<\/p>\n Twenty-two games into her college career, Bessette is averaging<\/a> 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game and has been named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice<\/a>. Though she\u2019s exceeded her own expectations for this season, Bessette says she can keep improving and continues to work on her game.<\/p>\n Bessette started her basketball career as a point guard, which helped her understand the roles of multiple positions.\u00a0Then, while she was in high school, Bessette\u2019s coach saw the potential for her to expand her game because of her size and had her play as a forward often.<\/p>\n \u201cYou set up all the plays, you know what options are coming off of what screens, and all the reads,\u201d Bessette said about her experience as a point guard. \u201cSo I feel like that already helps me from like [the] one, two and three perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n Guth is excited about Bessette\u2019s versatility and ability to play all five positions. In Loyola Chicago\u2019s Dec. 18 game against Northwestern, senior Kira Chivers<\/a>, the team\u2019s starting point guard, was out due to injury<\/a>. Sophomore guard Alexa Kinas<\/a> was moved into her spot, but Bessette also ran the point during some possessions.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve [also] been able to see her at the wings, at the trail five, and most recently, we put her at our spot near the rim to be effective with mismatches,\u201d Guth said. \u201c\u2026 It\u2019s really hard to make decisions on a scout against her when she has that versatility. It makes it fun from a coaching standpoint, because you can be really creative in how you utilize her on both sides of the floor.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n As Bessette continues to grow, Guth would like to see her be able to defend more positions as well. Guth has noticed Bessette is \u201cmaturing in frustration,\u201d and trusting the coaching staff to put her in positions to be effective. She is also learning to handle the extra pressure opposing teams are putting on her.\u00a0<\/p>\n When Bessette gets frustrated by a missed foul, or isn\u2019t able to score around additional defenders, Guth is able to get straight to the point with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m able to say, \u2018We need to stop crying about it, be about it. We gotta fix our face. We gotta change our emotion. We gotta get it done on this end,\u2019\u201d Guth said. \u201cAnd I think her maturity as a freshman, to be able to take that and not go within herself, be able to grab a straw, suck it up and think about the next thing \u2014 I think she responds well to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Guth is impressed by Bessette\u2019s desire to learn, and has seen the freshman build relationships with and spend time individually learning from the other coaches. She would like to see Bessette get more comfortable with her left hand and consistently defend with intensity, and sees her working on those areas every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhether \u2026 [she\u2019s asked to be] playing in a gap off of a player, or having \u2026 to take on [a] post player, or providing length on a tricky guard, she values the assignment and figures a way to work on that,\u201d Guth said.<\/p>\n But Guth also sees how much Bessette wants to get better and looks forward to seeing how improving Bessette\u2019s explosiveness, strength and ball-handling will benefit her game.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not gonna see a kid who\u2019s in the gym more, trying to get extra individual work in or do an extra film study with our coaching staff,\u201d Guth said.<\/p>\n The IX Soccer is here! <\/p>\n In case you missed it, The IX Sports introduced a new women\u2019s soccer-specific vertical called The IX Soccer<\/a>!<\/p>\n Just like The IX Basketball, this will be your destination for 24\/7 women\u2019s soccer coverage, including exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes looks at your favorite teams and leagues, as well as news from around the world. <\/p>\n Follow the link below<\/a> and bookmark the page to stay up to date on the latest headlines in women\u2019s soccer.<\/p>\n Bessette\u2019s actions that don\u2019t show up in the box score, as well as her scoring, assists and improved presence on the glass (for a team that is 355th in Division I<\/a> in rebounds per game (30.7)) have cemented Guth\u2019s belief in what Bessette can do for the program. In just her third collegiate game, Bessette and the Ramblers traveled to No. 1 UConn. She finished with 7 points, four rebounds, one assist, three steals, one block, seven turnovers and no fouls in the 85-31 loss<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe anticipates really well, has a good feel for the game,\u201d Guth told The IX Basketball at Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 12. \u201cObviously, I know she had a couple forced turnovers trying to push us in transition tonight, but I really love the way she wants to play fast and can see the floor well.\u201d<\/p>\n Bessette went 3-for-11 from the floor, and after the game, Guth said she wants Bessette to be scoring the ball more, and that they need to consistently get her shots. Though she didn\u2019t score in Loyola Chicago\u2019s next game against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, since Nov. 18, Bessette has averaged<\/a> 13.4 points on 11.0 shots per game.<\/p>\n As Bessette continues to grow offensively, Guth wants to see Bessette find open teammates at the right time, especially when she\u2019s drawing defensive attention. During the offseason, she\u2019d also like to see Bessette work on her mid-range shot.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the sky\u2019s the limit with her,\u201d Guth said. \u201cShe has the ultimate green light, as long as she\u2019s putting in the reps and the time.\u201d<\/p>\n