With 24 days before its first game, the women’s basketball team is going full force in practices.

While opening day seems far away, it is actually right around the corner for the Huskies, and coach Jane Albright said she wants her team to be consistent.

“Overall, practices get better every day,” Albright said. “We have gone through a couple of lapses, but they are never back-to-back, which is nice to see.”

Practices deal with basics. Albright said the team has been working on its foundation and fine-tuning its play.

“We are still in a thinking process,” Albright said. “Our defensive play is becoming more natural, but our offense is still in the thinking process.”

Albright said practices include a lot of running. She said the team has to be in better shape to beat any team.

“We have a lot of speed,” Albright said. “There is a difference between speed and quickness. We can’t necessarily improve quickness, but we can definitely get faster.”

Although the squad is looking for a point guard, the Huskies have found their team leaders. Last week the players got together and voted for their captains. Junior Gena Stubbs and sophomore Lisa Foss were delegated by their peers as team leaders.

“Gena and Lisa have been the most consistent players on the team,” Albright said. “They have been even-keeled.”

Albright also mentioned Carol Owens and freshman Dianna Wingis as two other players who have been doing well in the opening weeks of practice. She said Owens has not been favoring her knee, which she injured in the opening game last season. Albright also said Wingess will make an immediate impact with the team. Wingis is slowly working her way into practices after a month off from illness.