It's time to regroup after our loss to Texas A&M and losing our point guard, Jania Sims, in that game. It is a long season and we know that we have to just take it one game at a time. We know that we are all going to have to step up for Jania and try to fill her shoes until she can get back. A lot of us are going to have to play point guard by committee until then, but that is something we know we can do and that we want to do for her.

Losing to Texas A&M was disappointing and we were down about it, but we are ready to take care of business now. It can't be something we let stick with us. Right now we are heading to Western Michigan for a Thursday night game - enjoying our charter flight. You can't beat it! But when we get there, it is all business. We plan on coming home with a win.

Monday night we're going to play at home (finally!) against Penn State. It should be a great game since they're close to us and we know a lot of their players from summer league here in Pittsburgh. Last year's game was interesting and it didn't go as we expected, but they're coming to our house this year and we plan to protect our home court, like great teams do.

I also just found out that I'm going to get to spend Christmas with my brother for the first time in a long time. I can't wait. He is in Atlanta and my mom is going to be there too. I haven't seen my brother in over a year though so it's going to be a great time.  Have a great week!

Tae Tae

   The team is really looking forward to the start of the season. We get to play in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic in Baton Rouge against Texas A&M and that is the highest profile tournament in the regular season that Pitt has ever played in. We can't wait to play them to see where we stand and how much we have grown. This game is going to be on ESPN2 and playing on national TV is also something we haven't had much of in the past. But we made it to the Sweet 16 last year and things have really changed for this program fast. Don't think that we are just excited to be where we are now though, we plan on making big things happen this season and we plan on going down to Baton Rouge to get a win.

To get ready for this game on Sunday, I am sure we are all going to take naps. That is our pregame ritual. And each group has different music they listen to in the lockerroom to get pumped up. The Jersey girls listen to club music, which is really annoying, I listen to down South music and the Maryland girls listen to go-go music - it is awful! So, we put our headphones on, or to get loose, we make our own beats or freestyle. We just clown around.  

With our team this year, the chemistry is great. We have our starting point guard, Jania Sims, coming back which really helps. With her, our transition game and our speed allow us to do so many things. Our new players are great too. Pepper Wilson, who is 6-6, comes in and is going to get a lot of minutes and everyone else - Kate (Popovec), Sarah (Ogoke) and Brit (Thomas) work so hard and will give anything to the team - intensity, talking, whatever it takes to make us better.  

We can't wait for tip-off on Sunday! All of the exhibition games are done and we are all dying to get out there and play a game that counts. Watch us on ESPN2! Until next time...

Shavonte (Tae Tae)