On Sunday, Dec. 2, the Lakers were defeated by Kutztown at home, 70-60. The loss was the team’s third of the young season.

Senior Dana Banda can now reflect on the loss as a reminder of how important it is to maintain consistency throughout the entire game.

“It was a tough loss to swallow. This is a game we definitely should have won, and as a team, we know that,” said Banda. “I think the only thing we can take away from the game is that we need to be consistent from tipoff to the final buzzer. Starting with our intensity level, all aspects of our game need to be consistent.

Banda and senior teammate Kelsey Trosch were just recently named team captains for the season.

“Being named captain this season is a huge honor,” said Banda. “This is my senior year and I know Kelsey Trosch and I want to leave behind a tradition for our younger teammates, and their future teammates.”

Banda has a precise idea of what a captain is, and aims to fill that role in its entirety.

“To me, the definition of a captain is someone who bridges the gap between the team and the coaches. It is someone who can easily and effectively communicates with their teammates what the coaches are thinking, and what they expect of the team,” said Banda. “While it is about communication, the title also means someone who can set an example with their continuous hard work ethic on and off of the court. Being captain this year holds Kelsey and I to a higher standard that we have to continue to be at throughout the season.”

Going into their game Saturday, Dec. 8, the Lakers knew they had to turn things around to win against Lock Haven at home. Refusing to start a loss-streak, the Lakers showed up to win, and did, 69-55. The win puts the Lakers at 2-3 overall.

“Lock Haven was a good win to get under our belt, especially with it being our first conference game,” said Dana. “However, we definitely need to work on our rebounding as well as finishing at the free throw line. Going into our next crossover games, we have about a week of practice to fix what we need to, and continue to get better.”

The Lakers will travel to Shippensburg on Tuesday, December 18, followed by Millersville the following day to face both Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents.