Women's Basketball | 11/13/2014 3:20:00 AM
BALTIMORE –
Tanaysa Henderson is one of four juniors preparing to help senior
Bria Harris lead the 2014-15 Coppin State women's basketball team to victory.
"I told them at the beginning of the year that I need the juniors to act like seniors," veteram Coppin State head coach
Derek Brown said. "We have a senior but Bria has always bonded with those players from her sophomore year till now. She's basically a part of them and they a part of her.
"They should all be acting like seniors right now. It's a tough thing to try to act like a senior when you're not. I think it's something special when you actually become a senior and things change for you mentally because you feel there's no one above you at that point. I'm trying to get them to be that way but it takes time."
Even with the added responsibility, Henderson is calm, cool, and collected.
"Bria could lead us on her own if she had to but that's the thing, she shouldn't have to," Henderson said. "As juniors, we have to act like seniors and have Bria's back. We need to show the freshman and sophomores how to get it done."
Last season, Henderson, a six-foot forward, averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. In back-to-back games against Morgan State and Florida A&M, she had eight and a career-high nine rebounds, respectively. However, Henderson knows that part of acting like a senior includes stepping into the spotlight and demanding everyone's attention.
"Last year I was a role player," Henderson said. "I came in when I was needed to and gave us a couple of bonus points and rebounds. I definitely don't want to be a role player anymore. Coach Brown is looking for the juniors to step up and have a big impact. He says it all the time and wants us all to step up and contribute. Last year we had three players that could basically do it all. This year we don't have any MVP's. We have a bunch of role players that have to get it done."
The transition from role player to starter means Henderson is going to have to work on her on-court presence.
"I need to be confident in myself," Henderson said with a shy smile. "I get the confidence talk all the time. I have all the skill sets but if you're not confident then what can you do with it? That's what I've been lacking for the past two years. I'm trying to get a grasp on it. Confidence is all about working hard. Once you know you've got it, no one can take that away from you. I just have to keep working hard."
While Henderson is looking to build up her confidence, Brown wants her to turn the physicality up a notch.
"I need Tanaysa to be tougher physically," Brown said. "She's in her third year so she basically knows my system, even though things do change on the floor. She knows how I play and it always starts with defense. The offense comes and goes, but defense is consistent. If you just play hard and tough defense, you're going to play for me."
The Eagles will definitely need plenty of intensity and hard work this season as they face challenging non-conference foes North Carolina State, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Robert Morris, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Union, Maryland, Georgia, and Miami in the first two months of the season.
Out of all of those teams, Henderson will have sweet redemption on her mind when Coppin State heads to Florida to take on Miami on Dec. 13. The Eagles dropped a close 62-57 decision to the Hurricanes last year.
"Every game is a big game but I want Miami," Henderson said with a smirk. "Last year it was too close and we could've had that win. This year we're going down there and I want to take it to them."
Henderson suiting up in blue and gold to play against some of the biggest names in collegiate women's basketball is a far cry from the 10 year-old starting out on the blacktop.
"When I moved from New York to Virginia I didn't have any friends," Henderson said. "My grandfather played basketball in high school and college. One day in the winter, he said we were going to the gym. I had never picked up a basketball a day in my life but he just had me out there playing. I guess some people have natural ability and he saw something in me from that day on. He never let me put the ball down."
The passion instilled by her grandfather on the basketball court has carried over into other areas of Henderson's life. She is a proud member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.
"I picked Sigma Gamma Rho because it's the most diverse sorority in the Divine Nine, especially on this campus," Henderson said. "You want to join something that fits you instead of something you have to fit into. Out of the four sororities on campus, this was the one that fit me, my personality, and my lifestyle."
Fostering a sense of sisterhood is one of the most important components of any sorority. The same can be said for being a member of the Eagles' women's basketball squad.
"As coaches, we try to cultivate a family dynamic but it starts with who we recruit," Brown said. "We make sure we recruit good kids, quality kids. It just goes to say that once they melt together they like each other. Once they're around each other they're fine with each other and having fun together. They're good people and when you put good people together, good things usually happen."
The entire Coppin State community is expecting good things to happen this year. The Eagles will look to post their fourth straight winning record and their 11th overall under Brown.
The season begins Sunday afternoon when the Eagles hit the road to Raleigh to meet N.C. State. It is the start of a season-opening road trip.
