Story by Krista Moore

Palomar Women’s basketball has officially tipped off their season looking to get back to the championship game.

The women finished 21-8 last season, in what Coach Leigh Marshall described as a down year, which she contributed to relying on a young team for big minutes. 

With about half of the squad returning from last season, Marshall looks to regain some of the basketball IQ that Palomar is known to have.

Returning First Team All Conference  point guard, Taylor Williams said, “Since we have a lot of sophomores, I want to carry over the seniority attitude and have high IQ and leadership.”

Along with game awareness, newcomer Elexis Espina said she’d like to carry over the ability to be coachable this season.

 The freshman played big minutes for the Comets off the bench in their first game and win of the season with 10 points, two assists and four rebounds. 

Coach Marshall liked what she saw from Espina saying, “She plays really hard and she buys in and she just wants to do what’s best for the team.”

Along with Espina the Comets get back  Nikki Mayoral, who sat out last season with an ACL injury, but had contributed the previous season. 

Coming back to the court this season Mayoral wants to carry out the energy and work ethic she has become accustomed to at Palomar mentioning it as a contagious quality within the team.

“The work ethic is the key to every good team.” Mayoral said. “ In order to get the accolades a team must first do the dirty work not everyone loves doing.” 

Coach Marshall is looking to Williams and Mayoral as two leaders to help guide the team to the universal goal of a state title.

The team will be playing its first home game against Santa Monica at 7 p.m. on Friday Nov. 15 in the Dome.