The fields are turning brown and it’s getting too cold to play outside sports. That must mean it’s time for the winter sports held in the Ragan-Brown field house: men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and women’s swimming. The men’s basketball team finished the regular season third in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) last year with a 15-11 record, and this year they are looking for a top spot.

“We know we have talent and depth, but it will take time to develop our chemistry,” said Tom Palombo, head coach for the men’s basketball team. His team, which graduated seven seniors last year, will have a tough time in a talented ODAC that consists of many strong teams and a pre-season nationally Hamden-Sydney squad.

“I think developing the younger players and playing hard every night will be the key to winning the ODAC,” says Palombo. “Sophomore Genaro Lawhorn and senior Ashford Gray are two of the most experienced players on the Guilford squad and need to stay healthy in order for us to take full advantage of this season.”

The men’s basketball team has a game this week against Division II Shaw, Nov. 13 in the Ragan-Brown Field House at 3:00 pm.

The women’s basketball team was 17-9 last year and tied for ODAC third, but the squad is having a problem in the beginning of their season. The team, like the men’s, graduated six seniors last year and has only three returning players: senior Courtney Hill, junior Jennifer King, and sophomore Dionne Graham.

“We’re young, 10 out of 13 players are freshmen this year, so it’s definitely a rebuilding year,” said Stephanie Flamini, head coach of the Women’s basketball team. “I feel positive that we have an opportunity to finish anywhere depending on how our freshman adjust to the competitiveness of collegiate basketball.”

“Our key to winning is staying healthy and being able play well up to and during the time of the ODAC tournament, so we can make our goal of getting to the NCAA tournament,” said Flamini. “I think that it’s not how we start, it’s how we finish.”

The Lady Quakers open the season Nov. 19 against Ferrum in a four-team tournament hosted by Ferrum. Their first home game is Dec. 11 against ODAC-rival Emory & Henry.

The women’s swim team may be new, but it is already making a big splash.

With a convincing win against Emory & Henry 146 – 28 in their first ever swim meet Oct. 30, the women are looking for leadership to take them to an even more successful season than originally thought.

“It’s hard with all of us coming from different swimming backgrounds because swimming is both a team and individual sport,” said Nikki Mallmann, a sophomore at Guilford, “our leadership is mixed, but what it basically comes down to is experience and performance.”

The women will compete next at Randolph-Macon Nov. 20 at 2 pm.