The Loyola Women’s basketball program has routinely been strong under the guidance of Head Coach Kelli Kennedy. In four of the past five seasons the women’s basketball team has won twenty or more games, last year being a historic season with the team winning a school record 27 games. The heart of that team however, guards Janeicia Neely and Meghan Whitaker, exhausted their eligibility and graduated in May 2015.
Neely led the Wolf Pack in points, assists, steals, and free throw attempts and makes a season ago and Whitaker led the team in three point field goals made. Coach Kennedy believes the loss of a player of Neely’s will greatly impact the Wolf Pack and any program for that matter.
“She (Neely) was such an impactful player while she was here, she did so much for us on both ends of the floor and not to mention the leadership she provided us off the court. Those are all things that are just so hard to replace,” said Kennedy.
With the graduation of both players there have been questions of whether the team can maintain the same level of success and continue to be a strong program going forward.
For that to happen sophomore guard Zoie Miller will have to elevate her game to new heights.
Miller, a sophomore from Frisco, TX, a suburb of Dallas, saw limited to no playing time as a freshman and battled with losing her confidence as the season went on last year. Amidst great team success, her freshman year was a tough transition and she has used that as motivation to be better this season.
“It was hard coming in being the youngest player on the team, so I would always have to be a step ahead, but I got used to it and started working harder. I was really shocked because coach limited my game but I had to remain humble and keep working,” said Miller.
Coach Kennedy believes that Miller’s struggles freshman year were mainly because she was a freshman and there are growing pains.
“Freshman year is really hard for everybody and I think Zoie went through the transition of really sitting and watching which she wasn’t used to. She was behind a great player and learned the game and now she has an opportunity to get out there and make an impact,” said Kennedy.
This past off season, Miller knew she had to get stronger and be counted on to make plays when asked of her and those were her points of emphasis this offseason.
“I just worked on finishing better, that was a big part of it, and knocking down easy shots, also feeding my teammates the ball so they can get better shots,” said Miller.
The improvements Miller has made in her game have not only been obvious in the box score, with her leading the team in assists with 4.4 per game, but also to her teammates.
Junior forward Caroline Gonzalez said that the confidence Miller has on the court has been noticeably different from her freshman season.
“Zoie came in after the summer and she was a completely different player. Last year she seemed to be a little hesitant with her game, this year she seems to have a lot more confidence. Her ball handling has significantly improved, as well as her defense and leadership. I think Zoie is a great example of growing into your game and she has brought a lot to the team this year,” said Gonzalez.
The defense has been the key to Miller’s game this season, she also leads the team in steals with 14 this season which matches her total from a year ago, which has been contagious to the rest of her team according to junior guard Kylah Jones.
“Zoie brings defensive intensity and is a great on ball defender, she is quick and can read passing lanes and is very smart. We feed off of her defensive intensity,” said Jones.
Jones has also stepped into an increased role on the team this year, joining Miller in the starting backcourt after being the first guard off of the bench last season as a sophomore as well as her freshman campaign. She believes that the new starting backcourt should be able to step up and pick up right where Neely and Whitaker left off.
“I feel like me and Zoie have the potential to play up to Meghan and Janeicia’s caliber and abilities, but we have to continue to work and prove ourselves,” said Jones.
Miller doesn’t feel any pressure to follow in Janeicia Neely’s footsteps and believes that the team can grow into collectively filling her void.
“All together, we all bring something to the team and we are all getting better. We lost a lot in one player but are gaining a lof from multiple players this year,” said Miller.
But over the course of her Loyola career Miller simply just wants to get better as a player.
“I want to become a better leader, coach stays on me about that about being more vocal. Also just a better player and shooter and just elevate my game,” said Miller.
This season with Miller stepping up it brings a new dynamic to the team from Janeicia Neely. It is truly a changing of the guard.
Kameron Hay 