The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/447116
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL answered exactly how her head coach would've wanted. "I focus on creating easier shots and open shots for my teammates," Thompson said. "That could mean driving and kick‑ ing, or coming off of the pick and roll and making a pass, or looking for Katelynn [Fla‑ herty] for a three, or Cyesha [Goree] on the inside, or Shannon [Smith] cutting to the bas‑ ket. I'm just look‑ ing for my open teammates. Coach is really big on defense, too, so I'm always try‑ ing to keep my player from scor‑ ing. I try to make sure everyone is in the right position, too." Thompson is quiet by nature. She's not going to yell and scream to get her point across, but when you are the point guard sometimes that's necessary. As a former point guard, new assistant coach Megan Duffy has naturally gravitated to Thompson to help mold her into that kind of player. "I think the challenge for Siera is to be more vocal and lead more on the floor with her voice," Barnes Arico said. "She's fantastic at leading by example, but she has to work on hav‑ ing that vocal presence. Coach Duffy was a point guard at Notre Dame, an All‑American, and she played in the WNBA, and she's really kind of taken Siera under her wing and tried to get her to develop that voice." T h o m p s o n knows herself, and she too says that being more out‑ spoken could take her game as a point guard to another level. Last year, she struggled with it, and while Barnes Arico would like it to improve even more, Thompson said she's more comfortable with it this year. "Growing up I was always a quiet person," she said. "Coach wants me to step outside of my shell a little bit. Last year it was really hard for me, but I think this year I'm easing into it and getting better at it." Thompson was a big part of the Wolverines' 11‑5 start, averaging 10.9 points per game. She knows, how‑ ever, that she can develop even more as a player and, more importantly, as a leader. "I want to lead my team more, that's big on my list," she said. "I want to know all the time where peo‑ ple are supposed to be. I don't want to rely on Coach Arico so much. I want to see for myself what's open Through Jan. 12, sophomore point guard Siera Thompson led the Big Ten in free throw shooting (97.0 percent). PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS