Week after week New York University’s women’s basketball team appears on the USA Today ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. Currently standing 13-1 and ranked 11th in the nation, the Violets continue to be strong despite suffering a couple of major upheavals. On the eve of the season, Janice Quinn, head coach of the program for 21 years, resigned for health-related reasons. Stefano Trompeo, one of Quinn’s assistant coaches for the past five years, was named interim head coach.”One of the positives for me is that what Janice built is still here,” said Trompeo. “I’m coaching the kids she’s trained and taught all those years. A lot of things we do are similar. I’ve implemented a couple of new things, as any coach would, but for the most part the philosophy and the mentality offensively and defensively are the same.” One of the core philosophies at NYU is to keep in mind long-range goals but keep the focus one game at a time. This did not change when sophomore guard Bianca Storts, who had moved into a starting spot this year, tore the ACL in her left knee on Jan. 3. She is scheduled to have surgery on Jan. 27 and then will rehab. She plans to return to action next season. In the mean time, she’s intent on continuing to contribute to the team. “Being on the sidelines is an eye opener,” she said. “It shows the goods and bads of our team and of our chemistry…. It’s a nail biter to watch the games and I can’t get in, but at the same time I can see this is a really solid good team we have. I want to learn more. I want to help my team more.”

Trompeo is doing his utmost to keep Storts involved. “Bianca is always watching. She’s always trying to help her teammates. She has a good sense of the game,” he said. He has encouraged her to keep a journal to document her road back from injury. He also encourages her to use this time to gain greater insight into the coaches’ perspective.

“Now she can see what the preparation is supposed to be like,” he noted. “The overall motivation of the group is really good. They work hard on a daily basis.”

NYU is next on home court on Jan. 30 vs. University of Chicago. You can follow their play at www.gonyuathletics.com.