For the women’s basketball team, the idea of teamwork has recently been tested. Senior center Kim Watson was suspended indefinitely prior to Saturday’s game.
Watson missed practice last Wednesday with what she said was an illness. As a result, head coach Debra Clark suspended the 2003 MEAC Player of the Year until further notice.
“We do not tolerate that kind of behavior and she knows that,” Clark said.
Watson did not play in Saturday’s game against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Last season, Watson led the Lady Rattlers to the conference tournament averaging 17.7 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. The Lady Rattlers fell in the semifinals to Hampton.
In Watson’s absence other players such as forward Elana Greene have been forced to take up the slack. Greene scored a game high 24 points against UMES Saturday.
“With Kim gone I knew I would have to step up,” Greene said. “The last three practices we’ve been putting in a big effort on boxing out and so I just used that … “
As of Sunday, Watson ranked in the top ten of the conference in several statistical categories. Watson is 8th in scoring with 13.2 points per game, 10th in rebounding with 40 offensive boards and 73 defensive boards for a 7.1 average and 4th in field goal percentage, sinking 87-191 for a 45.5 percentage.
“[Her absence] has definitely affected the team,” senior guard Yolanda Dixon said. “It has made everyone work 100 percent harder, because she’s really important to the team.”
As the season approaches the halfway point, FAMU (11-7 overall, 7-2 MEAC) is in second place. After defeating North Carolina A&T 74-54 and South Carolina State 69-67, Saturday’s victory improved the Lady Rattlers’ winning streak to three games. The team’s next game is scheduled for Saturday, when they take on Coppin State (6-3 MEAC) at 2 p.m.
As of Monday, it was unsure whether Watson would participate in the upcoming game.
Contact Dominique Drake at ddidis1@aol.com.