Through the first 20 games of the UNC Wilmington women’s basketball season, the Seahawks are 13-7, including a 6-3 record in the CAA. Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is trying to replicate, and improve on, the program’s first-ever postseason run last year in her first season at the helm. Cooper-Dyke has consistently said she wants her team to improve its toughness, and matchups against No. 5 Duke and No. 15 Delaware, according to the latest AP Top 25 poll, figured to have helped the Seahawks’ progress. The Seahawk tracked down the Hall of Famer for a mid-year report.

The Seahawk: What has been one positive aspect of the season so far?

Cynthia Cooper-Dyke: Our recent growth. Just to see the players go from wide-eyed—a bit confused, and a little afraid of the unknown—to realizing how good they can be, learning the system and then going out and actually preforming. That’s been great and great to see.

TS: How about one negative aspect or something you’d like to improve on?

CCD: Well, I always want to be perfect. If there was one thing, it would probably be rebounding. We have got to be a better rebounding team for the things we want to do on the court. For example, we want to run (fast breaks). The only way you can run is if you get some defensive stops, and you grab rebounds and get going down the court.

TS: What is the team focusing on most this season?

CCD: We’re really focusing on defense. Getting defensive stops, which will then allow us to get out on our fast break. The second thing we’re focused on is being consistent and precise in the half-court offense, really being efficient. Trying to have that balance is something we’ve been working on all season.

TS: What is something you’ve noticed strengthen since last season?

CCD: Something that has strengthened since last season has been our outside shooting. Our three-point shooting has improved with Abria Trice and Jessica Freeman, in addition to Alisha Andrews and Tawanna Lee.

TS: Do you and the team have any pre-game rituals?

CCD: They all have their (individual) rituals; I just make sure that I don’t wear my shoes in the locker room. I wait until the 10-minute mark to put my shoes on. Then, when I come in at halftime, I make sure I take my shoes off before I start talking.

Although I might change that ritual, because (Jan. 22) I left my shoes on and we ended up having a great game against (Old Dominion). I am fundamentally a basketball player, so wearing heels all night long is not something that feels good to me, so I get a chance to have a break at halftime. I try to give my feet a break—that’s my little ritual. I wear the type of shoes where I don’t really need to, and I’ve been wearing them for a while.