Follow The Women's Basketball Team In California

Follow the women's basketball team as junior Michel'le St. Pierre blogs from California:

12/26 - Arrival In Los Angeles | 12/27 - Afternoon Adventures In LA & Celtics-Clippers Game | 12/28 - Trip To USC & San Diego | 12/29 - Chapman Game & Evening At Camilla Bistro | 12/30 - Hollywood Boulevard & Bowling In LA After Dark | 12/31 - New Years Eve At Disneyland

December 31, 2012 - New Years Eve At Disneyland

We were all eager to wake up today because that meant that it was time to head to Disneyland. That's all that was on the agenda, so we were pumped. We woke up, got breakfast and were off to Disney. We didn't want to waste any time because we wanted to ride as many rides as we could before curfew.

For the majority of the time, we were spilt up in two groups but by 8 PM we were back as a group. Meaghan O'Keefe does not like roller coasters or rides, so she went into Hollywood for the day with her parents. She was able to go on a celebrity house tour.

Once it was dark, it became freezing and the girls went back to the room to bundle up, fuel up and charge up. Everyone's phone was dead and most had sandals on, so a hotel stop was a must.

The Tower of Terror ride was everyone's favorite coaster and most of us rode it at least five times. We had the camera figured out, so we posed every time we went on to get the perfect photo before the elevator dropped us down.

We were given the opportunity to see the World of Color show and it blew our minds. It was the best show I've ever seen in my life. We met up as a team before midnight struck so we could spend our last moments of 2012 together. I can honestly say I wouldn't of wanted to be with anyone else. We counted down, we danced our ways into 2013 and were all very thankful to be with each other.

We had curfew at 1 AM, so most of us stayed dancing the night away until 12:45 PM because we had to head back to the hotel.

California was beautiful and a blast, I hope the seniors had as good as of time as I did since it's their last trip. Most of the girls pulled an all nighter so they could get rest on the long plane ride on New Years day.

Time for bed.

Michel'le

Photo Top: Kelli McPherson, Kara Rogers, Shannen El-Qasem, Julie Frankian and Michel'le St. Pierre pose at the entrance to Disneyland

Photo Middle: Team Takes A Moment To Spend One Last 2012 Moment Together During World of Color

Photo Bottom (Photo A): (Back) Michel'le St. Pierre, Kara Rogers and Julie Frankian, (Middle) Shannen El-Qasem and Kelli McPherson On The Tower Of Terror Ride At Disneyland

Photo Bottom (Photo B): Photo of Mickey's Fun Wheel at Disneyland

December 30, 2012 - Hollywood Boulevard & Bowling In LA After Dark

Good morning my peeps, hope you all are enjoying the snow on the East Coast.

Yesterday was the best day so far, we spent barely any time in the vans. Some of us headed to Denny's for breakfast and the others went to IHOP. After eating we headed back to the hotel and met up with coach to go over the scouting report for our game later on.

We ended up actually doing a run through in the parking lot, it was pretty cool. We used my small stress basketball for our ball and I pretended to be the hoop.

 My teammates and I were pumped for what we had planned for the day as we were off to Hollywood.

Because we had limited time before our game in the evening, we didn't have much time to spend on the "Boulevard." As a result, we couldn't look at the stars because we were too busy running into Charlie Chaplain, Spider-Man, Micheal Jackson and many others.

Before leaving the area, we found a sub shop to grab lunch at and then we headed back to the vans to play our game against Occidental College.

We lost 56-37,  but after the game we sat down as a team and discussed our plans for 2013. We discussed our upcoming MASCAC schedule, a fresh start and clean slate as everyone else in the conference is 0-0. And J. Biebs even wished us luck.

At the end of the game, we had some pizza for some quick dinner, which was free and it saved us a couple of bucks. After we freshened up and went back to the hotel, the team decided to go bowling in the evening.

I must say Meaghan Burns is quite the bowler, however, Meghan Keohane was a site to see. We headed back in for curfew and were all eager to go to bed because when we wake up tomorrow, its time for Disney Land.

Ladies and Gentlemen that's it for now. Byeeeeeeee.

Michel'le

Photo Above: The Team Takes A Photo Near The Hollywood Sign

Photo Middle: Michel'le St. Pierre and Julie Frankian Pose With Charlie Chaplain

Photo Below (Photo A): Meaghan O'Keefe and Kara Rogers Look Out For Johhny Travolta

Photo Below (Photo B): The Lancers Get In A Little Practice At The Hotel Parking Lot Before Heading To Hollywood Boulevard

December 29, 2012 - Chapman Game & Evening At Camilla Bistro

Good morning San Diego!

When I woke up all I could about was free continental breakfast because that meant I could spend that much more on a possible side trip Disney Land in the morning.

But unfortunately, we spent much of the morning in the vans which included a two and a half hour to the next hotel. We then dropped off our luggage, had an hour ride to lunch and about a twenty minute ride to Occidental College for our game against Chapman at 3 o'clock.

We suited up and were ready for our game versus Chapman College, but lost 60-42. After the game, we sat and watched Occidental College, because they are our opponents for tomorrow.

Afterwards the team freshened up and got ready for our team dinner. We went to a really beautiful resturant called Camilla's Bistro which even had a live band. We had some laughs and good memories, but after dinner we were back in the vans for another hour van ride.

We finally checked into the hotel and settled down and are pretty happy because we are staying in this hotel for three nights.

Hope everyone at home is enjoying the snow. Chow Chow for now.

Michel'le

Photo Above: Team Takes A Photo At The San Diego Bay

Photo Below: Squad Poses Just Before Having Dinner At The Camilla Bistro Restaurant

December 28, 2012 - Trip To USC & San Diego

Another early morning for the Lady Lancers because we had to check out and head to the University of Southern California for practice. We were very thankful and excited to be practicing at USC, even though it was just on the practice court, however, we did get a team photo on the main court.

 After practice, we were able watch the USC women's team practice for a bit before cleaning up. They were very welcoming (even though they thought we were in high school) and I personally was lucky enough to meet each one of the players.

Our next destination was San Diego and it was a fairly quick van ride after a few team games we played. On this two hour ride we saw Laguna Beach which we were all pumped for because of the old MTV show Laguna Beach, which (for some) was our all-time favorite TV show.

After checking in, we were fortunate enough to have a Worcester State Alum to meet up with, Donna Zwemke (Class of 2005). We had this really good pizza she brought for lunch and had a great conversation about "life after college." Donna also shared some of her WSU memories with us, both on and off the court. Since she knows the area, she took us around town and showed us how beautiful San Diego really was.

We eventually headed to Coronado and even hung out at the famous Hotel de Coronado. There was an ice skating rink, so myself, Veronica Norman and Julie Frankian hit the ice. Luckily again there were no wipe outs.

We parted from Donna and headed to TGI Friday's for dinner. After dinner, we met up with coach to go over the scouting report for tomorrow's game versus Chapman. Our next focus was Chapman University so it was another early night for the Lancers.

That's it for now.

Michel'le

Pictured Above: Team Just Outside USS Ronald Regan and the San Diego Bay

Pictured Middle: Veronica Norman, Julie Frankian and Michel'le St. Pierre Ice Skating

Pictured Bottom (Photo A) : Picture Of USC Basketball Court   

Pictured Bottom (Photo B): Scenery At The San Diego Bay

December 27, 2012 - Adventures In LA & Celtics-Clippers Game

After catching a good nights rest, we were all up early so we could get an as much exploring as possible before our practice. We fueled up at East Coast Bagels, which was only a minute from the hotel, plus it was really cheap.

A few of us decided that we wanted to go site seeing and head to the boardwalk of Venice Beach, the others stayed back caught some rays, and took a dip in the pool.

Venice Beach was beautiful, but the water was beyond freezing. While we were all happy to be in shorts and in tee-shirt, we soon looked like outsiders, not for our accents, but because of what we were wearing. This was warm weather for us but this was their "cold" weather.

 Once checking out the shops and buying a few souvenirs, we decided that we were going to rent some bikes and rollerblades. I must say, we weren't that great, but no one took a fall.

After that we went off to practice at a local community college, West Los Angeles College. After breaking a sweat, we headed back to the hotel, freshened up and were in a rush to get downtown.

No sooner than leaving the hotel, we were in bumper-to-bumper traffic and ready to get to The Staples Center to watch our Celtics play the LA Clippers that evening.

Once arriving at the arena, we explored a bit and made a run to the door to try and get court side to meet a few players. We just missed the time, but some of us were still determined to get a closer look. We eventually got Scal's attention and got a quick wave, other than that we weren't in any luck.

I was quite disappointed when I found out late in the third quarter that Justin Bieber was in the building, because once he came on the big screen, I freaked out and screamed his name for a good ten minutes.

The Celtics got creamed and we were upset but we wouldn't let that bring us down because we had tomorrow to look forward to.

Goodbye for now.

Michel'le

Top Picture: Team Poses Outside East Coast Bagels

Middle Picture: Kara Rogers and Meaghan Burns Pose In Front of Volkswagen Van

Bottom Left: Scenery Shot of Venice Beach

Bottom Right: Team Photo At Entrance To The Staples Center

December 26, 2012 - Arrival In Los Angeles

What’s one present Santa can’t give you? A team trip to California the day after Christmas.

Before we could start our journey to Cali, we had to get through an hour of a conditioning/shooting practice. Coach Tessmer threw in a few shooting drills, a review of the plays and a little bit of conditioning. Shortly after we were off to Logan Airport in Boston, checking in our bags, going through security, grabbing a quick bite to eat and boarding the plane. However, while we were going through the security check-point, Dale (one of guests traveling with us), spoke with our Massachusetts State Senator Michael Moore, who wished us luck.

The flight was quite a bumpy one and the seat belt sign went on a few times due to the high turbulence levels, but most of the team got to catch up on some rest that was lost due to the holidays. Luckily, we had a direct flight which great as we just missed the storm that hit the area on Wednesday.

We arrived in California around 9 PM, but it seemed so much later due to the three hour time difference.

The team was also provided with some humor at the baggage claim due to them taking forever to get our baggage on the rotating belt as we watched these two boxes go around at least twenty times before one of us got our first bag. No one’s luggage was lost, so it was a weight lifted off our shoulders. We then loaded up the vans and were off to the hotel.

Most of us were pumped once we got to the hotel because we all just wanted to crash and get our beauty sleep in. But we decided to explore the hotel and the beautiful outdoor pool/hot tub it had.

Because we were a little hungry after arriving in California, the rest of the team attempted to find the closest restaurant after the group of coaches and parents went their seperate way. We were in luck went as we found on that there was an IHOP ten minutes up the road. Once we fueled up, we hit the hay and are prepared for our first day in Cali tomorrow.

As for now, good night.

Michel’le

Pictured Above: Team Poses At Logan Airport

Pictured Middle: Team Waits For Plane At Logan Airport

Pictured Below: Pool At Team Hotel, With Hot Tub