With a 2-17 record last season to a 6-13 record this season, things are turning around for the Bucks County Community College women’s basketball program. So, what changed? The switch-up with the new head coach this season, Ebony Johnson. 

The women’s basketball team have a new fire with them this season and by looking at the schedule from this year, it was also much more competitive this season. With more points scored this year and nail-biting finishes, this team is now the real deal.

Matt Cipriano, the Director of Athletics and Student Affairs Division at Bucks County Community College said that “mistakes last year were cleaned up this year.” He also was not concerned with the four non-returning players as he believes Coach Ebony Johnson can coach this team to success.

Coach Johnson believes that the success from this season was sparked by boosting chemistry and more opportunities for the girls to improve and play together as a complete unit. The chance to get more reps in when playing also proved crucial for this team’s development as a program.

The main struggle was having students transfer after a year or two. Coach Johnson’s solution was not having this burden on the team and instead working with the player to their strengths and help them become the best versions of themselves. 

It also was not just about their performance on the court but rather their performance in the classroom. Coach Johnson said “you can’t be the athlete without the student… make sure they were on top of their books, make sure that their mental stability was good as best as I could.”

Coach Johnson’s coaching style seems to be a very inclusive one where everybody on the roster can prove themselves on and off the court and fight for their minutes.

Looking into next season, Coach Johnson sees more wins off the scoreboard and the players personal goals and growth as basketball players. The small victories as a team can lead to more and more victories, and lead into big wins against the big teams 

Recruiting has also been a topic of discussion with this program to see what this program can build up to and become, Coach Johnson said, “I’m more about taking it one day at a time, brick by brick, yes we are still building but even with what we have going forward, I am looking to seek out and maybe recruit just to see what this program can really become.”

The biggest improvement from the team from last season to this season was keeping the girls on the team, with different players lifestyle’s it can prove difficult because you may have girls that are working the 9-5 job and still come in and compete.

The goal for the program was to build a family and a space where they are comfortable and confident and reminding them that the court is a space of support and a place where the girls can be who they want to be and they can play how they play.

The players that decided to stay with the program can really say a lot about what Coach Johnson has contributed, but also the girl’s dedication and loyalty to the program. Congratulations to the women’s basketball team and Coach Ebony Johnson on a great season and the future they have ahead of them.