Q&A with @CanesWBB Freshman Sarah Mortensen
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Sarah Mortensen of the University of Miami women’s basketball team hails all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark.
A 6-foot-1-inch guard/forward who spent her senior year at Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.), Mortensen spoke with HurricaneSports.com about her first several weeks at Miami, her style of play and much more . . .
Q: You’ve been at Miami since the summer. How would you explain what the experience has been like so far?
A: I really like it here. It’s competitive. You have coaches around you ready to help you. [There is good] individual [work and] strength and conditioning. So far, I like it. It’s really good.
Q: What has been your favorite part?
A: Definitely practice . . . Just the way we do it, structurally. We have a little bit of individual [time] and then we play, and then we play more. It’s good getting to know all the girls.
Q: How much do you feel that coming to the United States for a year of high school helped you get acclimated to college?
A: A lot, definitely. Especially school-wise, I kind of know what the system is like now because it’s so different from over in Europe.
Q: What are some similarities and differences from what you were expecting Miami to be like compared to how it is?
A: I don’t know. I definitely expected it to be a lot of basketball, a lot of competitive people and working hard every day. You’re on your own, you do stuff, you live in the dorms, stuff like that—that was a little [bit of a] surprise, but I like it like that.
Q: Are there any upperclassmen who have kind of gone out their way to show you around and help you get adjusted to Miami?
A: Yeah, I would say KP [Khaila Prather]. Emese [Hof] and Laura [Cornelius], the two European [returnees, also]. Everybody has been nice.
Q: What made you decide that Miami was the school for you?
A: Katie Meier. She saw me and we had a good conversation. I felt like we had a good relationship. The competitiveness, when I was here on my official visit, I could really feel it. They had the scoring board with all the shooting drills. I really liked it, just the atmosphere.
Q: How would you describe your style of play?
A: I don’t know. When I played at LuHi [Long Island Lutheran] they called me Larry Bird [Laughter]. I guess I would say I’m a shooter, but I try to be tough, too. [I try to] go get some rebounds even though I’m only 6’1. I play with what the defense gives me.
Q: Are there any players you look up to and try to emulate how they play?
A: Yeah, of course. Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi, [they have] kind of like that all-around [style].
Q: What are you working on the most basketball-wise to get ready for the season?
A: Definitely to get stronger and get some [more] confidence in myself. [I am trying to] get a lot of shots up every day and [am also working on] ball handling and defense.
Q: When you play your first game as a Hurricane, what do you think it will be like taking the court?
A: Exciting. I think it’s going to be fun and I’m just going to go out there and do whatever I can do to help the team.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
