Laela Sturdy is anxious.

The captain of the Harvard women's basketball team is ready for the season to start. With an influx of youth, height and talent, she knows that this could be the best team in Harvard history.

And it's up to her to lead the Crimson back to its former glory.

Two years ago, the Harvard women's basketball team did the impossible, knocking off top-seeded Stanford in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Last year was a different story as the team struggled to a 10-15 record.

So the team is looking to make an about-face, and Sturdy, an outstanding student as well as scorer, will be up to the challenge.

A native of Cooper City, Fla., Sturdy will guide a team that features five sophomores and four freshmen. Sturdy is one of only two seniors on the team.

Even though Sturdy stands 6', she will have to "look up" to many of her younger, taller teammates as they look up to her as a mentor.

A dedicated worker on and off the court, Sturdy will serve as a mentor to the younger players. Although she ended her season last January with a severe ankle sprain, the forward leads all returning players with 12.1 points per game, 5.3 assists per game and a 57.6 field-goal percentage.