Amy Waugh has been witness to history.
As a player, the former Xavier University standout was part of the 2000-01 team that upset the University of Tennessee in the NCAA tournament en route to advancing to the Elite Eight.
Waugh, a point guard, played for coach Melanie Balcomb and was instrumental in helping put Xavier women’s basketball on the map. She then played her final season for coach Kevin McGuff and watched as he maintained the program’s postseason tradition. In 2009, she returned as an assistant coach just in time to be a part of a team that went 30-3 and advanced to the Elite Eight.
Two years later, Waugh intends to make some history of her own.
On April 20, 2011, Waugh was named to replace McGuff, who left to become the coach at the University of Washington, as the sixth head coach in the program’s history. The program’s 10th all-time leading scorer (fifth in assists) earned her first victory as coach Saturday in a 66-61 victory against Eastern Kentucky.
Waugh and the Musketeers will try to make it 2-0 at 7 p.m. Monday when they take on Mississippi State (1-0) at Humphrey Coliseum.
Waugh said she has taken what she has learned from McGuff and Balcomb, who is the coach at Vanderbilt University, and incorporated it with the intensity and drive to be the best that made her a successful player.
“Xavier basketball is going to work hard and try to continue on with the winning tradition,” Waugh said. “My intensity in practice and drive are kind of what motivates me and what has gotten to my team. If the players can take on the same intensity as I had we’re going to have a fun year.”
Xavier, which went 29-3 and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season, solidified Xavier’s reputation as more than a “mid-major” program from the Atlantic 10 Conference. In the past five seasons, Xavier has won at least 26 games each year and has advanced to the NCAA tournament.
This season, Xavier will do it with a new set of leaders. The Musketeers will have to replace five of their six top scorers from 2010-11, including Amber Harris (18.7 points per game) and Ta’Shia Phillips (16.1 ppg.). The Associated Press named Harris a second-team All-American and Phillips a third-team All-American last season.
Senior guard Tyeasha Moss, who was third on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg.) last season, returns to lead the team. She had a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds against Eastern Kentucky. It was Moss’ first career points-rebound double-double, and second career double-double.
Sophomore guard Lynette Holmes and redshirt junior forward Jessica Pachko both added 11 points. Redshirt junior forward Amber Gray had eight points and eight rebounds
“We don’t have that star player or that go-to player this year,” Waugh said. “We’re going to have to play much more as a team. I think you will see our intensity on the court much more than in the past. We’re just going to be a bunch of kids playing as hard as they can and playing together.”
Xavier defeated MSU 81-60 in 2009-10 and 61-36 last season. The Musketeers were picked to finish seventh in the A-10 preseason poll. But with Temple, Charlotte, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, and Dayton as programs that usually are bubbling around the top 25, Xavier is just another strong program in an overlooked conference.
Waugh hopes to keep Xavier at the head of that pack. She praised the work of Balcomb and McGuff for continuing the tradition in the program. She takes pride in that people have come to know Xavier and want to play Xavier. She intends to keep that going, even if it means she and the Musketeers have to pull a few upsets along the way
“It is a very, very special feeling,” Waugh said when asked what it feels like to call Xavier “my team.” “Xavier has been a special place since I played here, came back as an assistant coach, and to be my program. It is a dream come true. I look forward to building on the success of the previous two coaches.
“We preach every day tradition does not graduate. My team is very determined and very focused. Like you said, we’re going to go out there and prove people wrong that we are still going to be contender. Xavier has high expectations, and that is never going to change.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.