NDA Girls Take Aim at State Championship

At mid-season they are right on track - maybe even more so than they thought they would be. Notre Dame Academy's women's varsity basketball team is now 10-1 and ranked 19th in the Washington Post poll (as of this writing) - and it's just mid-season. With the goal of winning states this year and off to an impressive start with their toughest early season schedule ever, that goal is in sight.

Drawing on their years of experience playing together and team chemistry, head coach Mike Teasley couldn't be happier with what he sees.

"These girls just keep playing hard - they are quicker and better conditioned this year, and they see the results of their hard work," he said. "The tougher the schedule, the harder they play. We just have to keep it up. The schedule doesn't get any easier."

Leading the team are Lauren Thomas-Johnson, a junior, averaging 14.8 points per game, and senior Brittany Russell with 8.7 rebounds per game. They are followed closely by sophomore Ebonie Williams (14.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg), senior Liz Miller, last year's Loudoun County Player of the Year (9.3 ppg), and senior Emily Springer (6.9 rpg).

"Our team unity is the best part of playing," said Springer, who also helped lead the Lady Dragons to their second consecutive women's varsity volleyball state championship earlier this school year. "We have increased our depth, our speed, and improved our ability to execute as a team."

The team has impressive victories over defending state champion Paul VI and Patterson (#6 nationally) at the first Notre Dame Academy Classic in December; NDA won its bracket at the Sweet South Classic in Georgia in late December. Other wins have come over area rivals Bishop O'Connell, Holy Cross and Fort Defiance.

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