The 2007-2008 season has started slowly for Oberlin women’s basketball as the team comes to the end of its first two weeks of play at 1-3 overall. Despite this record, it is clear that the team is aiming high this year as different returners have shown improvement since the last campaign.

Sophomore guard Alicia Smith tops this list, averaging almost 13 points per game with 50 percent three-point shooting. Her 1.8 steals and 1.5 assists per game don’t look too bad either. Junior forward Alyssa Clark and senior center Roneisha Kinney have also been on point in the first four games of the season. Clark averages 11.3 points, 4.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game, while Kinney, who transferred to Oberlin last year, boasts 12.8 points and 9 rebounds a game. First-year Katie Thompson has also started the season on a high, scoring 14 debut points and averaging 6.3 points per game on 50 percent shooting.

Oberlin’s season opener was away at Holland, MI on November 16, where the Yeowomen went up against a tough Hope College basketball team that was was recently ranked fourth in the D3hoops.com national poll. The Flying Dutch proved too much for Oberlin, playing tough defense that kept the Yeowomen from reaching the 50-point mark. Hope dominated the game from the onset, forcing Oberlin to give the ball up 38 times en route to a 44-93 loss. Thompson led the Yeowomen on the night with 14 points in her first appearance, nine of them from three-point range.

The Yeowomen played the second game of the tournament the following day against Rochester at Hope College. Oberlin took charge of the game early on, setting up good plays and shooting the ball well as it went into the halftime break in front 28-23.

In the second half, Smith stepped things up a notch, sinking five three-point shots as Oberlin pushed ahead. The game ended at 74-58 with the Yeowomen claiming their first victory of the season. Smith finished with an impressive 28 points on 70 percent three-point shooting. Kinney and Clark also put up impressive numbers, combining for a total of 27 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and five blocks on the night.

Junior guard Amanda Van Allen was thrilled with the team’s victory and was impressed with Smith and Kinney’s performances.

“Things really started to click for us at that game. Our offense was great and we were able to execute plays well. Alicia and Roneisha were on point that night and they really helped us. I hope the entire team can mirror that level of play in the future.”

The Yeowomen played in their first home game of the season on November 20, as they hosted John Carroll University in a non-conference tie. The game started out fast with both teams getting clean looks and converting them. With nine minutes left in the half, John Carroll was on top 20-18. Ten unanswered points from the Blue Streaks negated Oberlin’s hard work as the two-point difference quickly became 12.

John Carroll held on, finishing the half in front at 45-27. The John Carroll team started the second half at an incredible pace, executing the fast break to perfection on numerous plays. The Yeowomen worked hard to counter the breaks but often couldn’t get back in time to prevent their opponents from scoring. The game ended at 87-53 in favor of John Carroll. Clark led the Yeowomen with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists closely followed by Kinney who totaled 12 points and nine rebounds.

This past Tuesday, Oberlin hosted Baldwin-Wallace College in Philips Gymnasium. Standing at 1-2, the Yeowomen were looking to even things up with a win against the visitors. Baldwin-Wallace scored eight unanswered points to kick things off. From there, the Yellow Jackets broke away, dominating as they headed towards an 87-37 victory. Baldwin-Wallace shot 55.6 percent from the field compared to Oberlin’s 27.5 percent. Once again, Clark and Kinney led the team, scoring 13 points each.

The Yeowomen are in action again at the College of Wooster on Wednesday, Dec. 5 in their first conference game of the season. The Yeowomen made the conference tournament last year and will look to improve upon their first-round exit.