Lady Rams having special season

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Coming into the season, the Bluefield Lady Rams were an afterthought.

They were picked to finish seventh in the 10-team Appalachian Athletic Conference after coming off an 11-19 season which saw their head coach Steve Hardin resign a month in. Something changed for the Lady Rams when new head coach Melissa “M.J.” Baker inherited the program last spring — they began to prove people wrong.

Bluefield took the AAC by storm finishing third with a 13-5 conference mark and finishing the regular season 19-9.

It wasn't an easy transition though for the Rams.

“At first, it was a struggle, because we had to adjust to her coaching style,” senior Kia Gilliard said. “She really wanted a lot of us that previous coaches didn't really push us to do. It was struggle in the beginning, but our record doesn't even show it — once the tournament hits everything we went through — good and bad — has prepared for us for now. For the most part, we get it and know what it takes for us to be successful.”

Bluefield has won their last three and was atop the AAC standings for a short time while being ranked in the NAIA Division II polls.

“It's been a fight, but I feel like right now, the whole team is buying in,” Baker said. “I can't wait until we're all clicking on all cylinders so that we can actually put two halves together. Not just a half there or a moment there.”

Gilliard added, “This is great. It's not easy, but going from finishing [eight] games below .500 to now, it's a big turnaround. You can see the obvious difference in the coaching staff and the players.”

Gilliard has been a big reason for the turnaround. The senior is third on the team in scoring (10.4 per game), first in assists (2.7) and second in steals (1.7). When the 5-foot-8 guards is on the floor, the Rams are a different a team.

“Kia has been the glue for us,” Baker said. “She's our heart. We didn't have her for four games and we lost three of the four without her.

“I don't even think Kia realized how much she means to this team. I think that experience kind of showed her how much she meant to this team. I've just been really blessed to be able to coach her this year.”

While Gilliard has been the glue, newcomer Teqa McNeal has brought the intensity. The sophomore leads the team in scoring (13.1 per game), is second in assists (1.5), second in steals (1.7) and is grabbing 3.9 boards per game.

“She is a player that I wish I could find more of,” Baker said. “If I could find more of her and Kia, we'd be in great shape. She's just so tough and when you challenge her, she rises to the occasion. It's a blessing that she had blind faith in following me over here.

“She works well with the team and her and Kia have gotten along really well together just complementing each other well. She's been on our defensive intensity as far as guarding our opponent's best guards. On the offensive end when we have trouble getting to the rim, she's always tough and gets in there for us.”

McNeal added, “I just play with my teammates. A lot of it comes from them. They get me open, they get me the ball and they have faith in me. A lot of it comes from my teammates so I have to give the credit to them and coach for pushing me.”

McNeal was one of two transplants from Baker's previous coaching stop at Spartansburg (S.C.) Methodist College.

“It's a blessing. I love M.J,” McNeal said. “She's really hard on me and I know she'll get the best out of me which is why I wanted to stay with her. It was a good move for me. I do want to get better. I think she'll bring the best out of any player she has.”

Unlike many of the Lady Rams, McNeal knew what to expect from Baker who asks a lot of her players. Gilliard and the rest of the Bluefield team though had a period of adjustment after playing under former coach Steve Hardin and interim coach Jessica Brokaw. However, Baker has been the perfect blend of the two former coaches according to Gilliard.

“Coach Hardin and Jess were here my freshman year,” she said. “[Coach Hardin] was a people person. He saw the potential in us, but was a little more lenient. Jess understood what was needed and knew our strengths. M.J. took both of those things and put them together. It wasn't you can do this, it was you will do this.”

The recipe has equaled one of the best seasons for the Lady Rams who will open conference play Wednesday against Milligan at the Dome Gymnasium.

After proving many people wrong with their play during the regular season, Bluefield is now ready to do the same in the postseason.

“Of course, Bluefield is the underdog,” McNeal said. “We haven't really made that statement. For our seniors and just because, we want make a statement. We have something to prove.

“We have something special with this team. This is a good group of girls. We just want to go out, play our hardest and make that statement, because we are a good team.”

Baker added, “I truly believe if this team would buy in completely in the sense of believing in themselves. I think they buy into the sense of the trust Jess and I. The fact that they believe in themselves and we continue to tell them this team can be really special and leave a legacy that's never been done before.”

The Rams are just five wins away from breaking the school record of wins which was set during Gilliard's sophomore season when Hardin led Bluefield to a 23-11 mark and an appearance in the NCCAA Tournament.

“We're trying to win it all,” Gilliard said. “From a senior standpoint, we've never won the conference tournament. That's something we're trying to do this. From a team perspective, Bluefield College is leaving NAIA Division and going D1.

“I say why not leave our stamp. In the past, Bluefield has not been known to be really good. We want to win the tournament then go onto the NAIA tournament. We have three games ahead of us to win the first goal.”

The first step toward their goal begins Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

— Contact Jonathan Greene

at jgreene@bdtonline.com

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