Collegiate Times

Sports Assistant

Going out with a bang is all Emily Lipton has on her mind this season; the senior point guard has tasted victory in her years as a Hokie and is hungrier than ever this year.

Last year, Lipton started in all but one game for the Virginia Tech women?s basketball team and strives to play a role as a leader on and off the court.

?This year, it is more important than ever that I be consistent, since we have such a young team,? she said. ?I do take pride in starting four years, and I go as hard as I can every day.?

With time running short on Lipton?s career as a Hokie, she knows the importance of Tech?s situation in key games against conference opponents. She is ensuring the team also takes the importance of making it to the Big East Championship and the NCAA Tournament seriously.

?We as a team have set goals to make it to postseason play,? she said. ?Some of the greatest memories I have while playing here date back to the last time we made it to the NCAA Tournament, so personally, that is more important than anything, especially since I only have a couple of months left.?

After a trip to the Women?s National Invitational Tournament last year, when they made it to the tournament?s final four, the team set a goal of getting into the women?s ?big dance.?

?Last year we were on the bubble, but it was our fault,? Lipton said. ?We lost late games on the road that kept us from going where we wanted to in the postseason. It was disappointing to see teams that we had more talent than; we don?t want that happening again.?

Lipton devotes herself entirely to basketball during this time of the year. Trying to balance the demands of practice and studying, she has little time for extraneous activities.

?Well, there isn?t much room for free time,? she said, ?but when I am not playing basketball or studying, I love to catch up on my sleep. Otherwise, I do spend a lot of time with my dog.?

At 5 foot 7 inches, Lipton has played guard throughout her entire basketball career. As a point guard, she controls the tempo of the offense and always carries the leadership role on the floor.

Off the court, Lipton plans to get her degree in Human Nutrition Foods and Exercise. With all of her immediate family members being alumni of the University of Maryland, she plans to return to her home state and go to graduate school there as well.

Lipton and the Hokies finish up their season with seven games against Big East opponents. Tech takes on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 2 p.m. Sunday in Cassell Coliseum.

The game is one of their four remaining home games before the ever-important postseason arrives.