Savannah Trees is one reason the DePauw Tiger women's basketball team has not lost a game since March 3, 2012. The 5-foot-8-inches junior from Libertyville, Ill. averages 14.2 points per game this season, leading the defending champions in points and minutes per game. Trees has been with the Tigers program since her freshman year. This past week, Trees had one of the best basketball games in her life. In a 98-32 blowout against the College of Wooster, Trees scored a career-high 26 points, almost outscoring the entire Wooster team. Trees shot 10-12, including a perfect 4-4 from behind the arc. She also dealt 4 assists in her 22 minutes of play. For her performance, Trees is awarded this week's Tiger of the Week. We caught up with Trees prior to the team's road trip to Ohio.
TDP Sports (TDP): To what do you attribute your growth to most?
Savannah Trees (ST): I attribute my growth to my coaches and my teammates. I couldn't ask for a better coaching staff or better teammates to push me and encourage me to get better every day.
TDP: Which first year player on the team reminds you the most of yourself?
ST: Lex Gaumer reminds me a little of myself, not just because we play the same position but because I can tell how determined she is and how much she loves the game of basketball.
TDP: The last time you lost a game was March of 2012. Do you think the team has forgotten what it feels like to lose a game? What long-term effect does that winning streak have?
ST: I don't think that we have forgotten what it feels like to lose. I know personally that the Carthage loss is still fresh in my memory and I'm sure that the other juniors and seniors would say the same thing. We don't look at our record or how long it has been since we lost. We just take every game and practice one at a time.
TDP: After winning the championship last year, do you think the team can reach a state of overconfidence?
ST: I don't know if it is expected that we win another championship but it is definitely one of our main goals. We're never overconfident because it's a new year with a new team.