North Carolina State University Athletics
Sparking Team Spirit
1/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - It is a standard question in player questionnaires; "Would you rather provide the winning assist or the winning bucket?". While responses vary from player-to-player and team-to-team, on the 2004-05 Wolfpack, six players said the assist, while five other players said it didn't matter as long as the Wolfpack won. Unselfishness, team work and togetherness may seem like basketball cliches, but for the Wolfpack it is a team personality that is fostered by coaches and realized by the players.
That attitude permeates throughout the team, and sophomore guard Marquetta Dickens fills that roll. She said she would set the winning pick as long as the team won. Her versatility and aggressiveness on the court has her filling the stat sheet since the first few games of her freshman season. She averaged 8.3 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game, while dishing out 57 assists, posting 28 steals and 11 blocks as a freshman. Her willingness to do whatever it takes to win is evidenced in her own description of herself as a player.
"I bring intensity on the court and will be aggressive," Dickens said. "I am a hard worker, and I'll give all I have while on the court. I might not have the most points or the most rebounds or the most steals, but I'll be an effective player on the court at all times. I'm a strong slasher and aggressive defender."
While willing to be a defensive stopper and all-around player, Dickens can score or rebound when the need arises. Her season highs from a year ago include 20 points against Virginia, nine rebounds and three blocks against Maryland, four steals against Eastern Michigan and she nailed three three-pointers in a game four times.
The sophomore provides a spark in the leadership department as well, using her on the court play in conjunction with her work ethic off the court to lead.
"I can bring some leadership on and off the court, either verbally or just staying focused on the court and getting the job done that way," Dickens said. "I have to work hard in the weightroom in the offseason to get stronger and to show that dedication to the game even out of season."
She traces much of her style of play and abilities back to a strong relationship with Tynesha Lewis, a standout guard for the Wolfpack who may be best remembered for garnering two triple-doubles in her career. Lewis and Dickens are both from Tarboro, N.C., and Dickens sees Lewis as one of her three inspirations alongside her mother, Sylvia, a single parent who worked to provide for her two kids and to put them through college, and head coach Kay Yow.
"Tynesha taught me moves on the court and she talked to me about how to stay focused and to always listen to Coach Yow, that she wont steer you wrong," Dickens said. "We're from a very small town and to see her succeed and fulfill her dreams, that is a motivation for me that I can do the same. I think all things are possible."
Coach Yow has always been a believer in teamwork and togetherness, and she fosters that in her players and recruits those women that can fill her team and thrive in that kind of system. Dickens is one of those players that thinks team first, and she feels that the team bond is the main reason players decide to come to NC State.
"She talks about it everyday," Dickens said. "We are going to need our teammates and her as an individual, she is a very strong individual who relies on her support staff to recruit, scout other teams, and that is a togetherness as a staff and from the head coach, and we just follow her lead. Every single recruit talks about how they love the team and how they can't wait to be a part of this team. Once we get here we want to win, and we know that is going to take teamwork to do that."
