Mercy Women's Basketball Grows in 2007-08
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Christina Baxter |
Season Review
DOBBS FERRY, NY - The 2007-08 season for the Mercy College women's basketball team saw a huge influx of young talent enter the program. Head coach Ashlee Kelly often started three freshmen that were guided by their team leader Christina Baxter (Greenwood Lake, NY).
Baxter was consistent throughout the year for the Mavericks. She led the team in scoring (15.7), assists (5.5), steals (51) and free throws made. The junior guard was named to the All-East Coast Conference (ECC) Second Team this season and earned a spot on the PrestoSports/Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Honor Roll three times.
"Christina really came into her own this season," Kelly said. "She took the entire team under her wing and has learned how to lead on and off the court."
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Delmara Reece |
Baxter also reached 1,000 career points on February 23 against St. Thomas Aquinas College, becoming the 16th member of the women's basketball program to reach the historic milestone. She currently has 1,045 points and has another year to add to her totals.
The freshmen also received some significant honors and achieved great success in their first collegiate season.
Freshman forward Delmara Reece (Yonkers, NY) earned All-ECC Third Team honors and was named ECC Rookie of the Week five times. She also earned PrestoSports/MBWA Honor Roll accolades three times. Reece recorded 14 double-doubles and averaged 13.0 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game.
"Delmara exploded onto the scene this season and has set the tone for her collegiate career," Kelly said. "I only look for her to continue to accomplish great things."
Freshman forward Ashley Finnegan (Worcester, MA) was third on the team in scoring with 11.1 points per game and was second in rebounding with 7.6 per game. She was also second in blocks with 27. Freshman guard Ashley Borofsky (Southington, CT) was the team's best outside threat and led the team with 45 three-pointers made. She was also second on the team in steals with 46.
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Jazmin Steele |
The season started off a bit rocky with five straight losses to Franklin Pierce, St. Michael's, Nyack, Queens and New Haven. The Mavericks found the win column with back-to-back victories against Dowling and Concordia. Four players scored in double figures against Dowling with Baxter leading the way with 22 points. Junior guard Jazmin Steele (Stoughton, MA) chipped in with 14 points, seven boards and five assists. The win over Concordia marked Reece's best game to date with 19 points and 23 rebounds, both career-highs.
Mercy then lost its next four games to NYIT, Felician, Newberry, and North Carolina Central, but rebounded with a big victory over Adelphi in the first game of 2008. Baxter registered 16 points, Reece also scored 16 points and grabbed 14 boards, and Finnegan chipped in with 14 points.
After a setback against Molloy, the Mavericks won back-to-back games against St. Thomas Aquinas and C.W. Post. Mercy stormed out of the gate in the first half en route to an eight-point victory over the Spartans. Baxter was the leading scorer with 18 points and seven assists. Borofsky registered 17 points and Reece added another double-double with 16 points and 17 boards.
Mercy then hosted C.W. Post in a game that saw four Mavericks reach double figures and go to overtime. In the extra session, the Mavericks stepped up its defense and only allowed six points. Mercy finished the upset with a few free throws by Reece. Finnegan notched a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Reece also registered a double-double with 18 points and 15 boards.
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Ashley Finnegan |
The Mavericks dropped four straight before picking up its final win of the season against Concordia. Reece recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and grabbing a career-high 24 boards. Finnegan also picked up a double-double with 17 points and 10 caroms. Baxter dished out 10 assists and scored 14 points.
Sophomore Samantha DeVore (Norwich, CT) and junior Sasha Bowen (Boston, MA) were both important members of the Mavericks' arsenal. DeVore had 10 points and 12 boards against Dowling and put up 20 points against Caldwell. Bowen played strong defense and created turnovers for the Mavericks. Courtney Cochran (Wilmington, DE), and Tracey Garnett (Ladyville, Belize) also contributed for coach Kelly's squad down the stretch.
The Mavericks finished the season losing its last seven games, but progress was not lost as Mercy has a bright future ahead.
"The foundation has definitely been laid down," Kelly said. "I have a very positive outlook with the combination of new recruits coming in and returning players."
