Mount St Mary's University Women's Basketball
Mount St Mary's University is a private, Catholic liberal arts college located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The university is home to a women's basketball team that has been making waves in the NCAA. The team has a rich history of success and has produced several notable players over the years. In this article, we will take a closer look at Mount St Mary's University Women's Basketball team and what makes them such a dominant force on the court.
History of Mount St Mary's University Women's Basketball
The women's basketball program at Mount St Mary's University began in the mid-1970s. The team started off as a club sport before becoming an official NCAA Division II team in 1986. In 1993, the team made the move to Division I and has been competing at that level ever since.
Over the years, the Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team has had several standout seasons. In the early 2000s, the team won three Northeast Conference (NEC) championships in four years. The team has also made several appearances in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
The Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team has produced several notable players over the years, including Liz McNaughton, who is the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,221 points. Other notable players include Selena Mann, who holds the record for the most assists in program history, and Kayla Grossett, who set the single-season record for three-pointers made in 2014.
The Current Team
The current Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team is led by head coach Maria Marchesano. Marchesano is in her seventh season as head coach and has led the team to back-to-back NEC championships in 2019 and 2020. Under Marchesano's leadership, the team has become a dominant force in the NEC.
The team's current roster is made up of a mix of experienced players and talented newcomers. Senior guard Jatarrikah Settle has been a standout player for the team over the past few seasons. Settle was named the NEC Player of the Year in 2020 and has been a consistent scorer and playmaker for the team.
Junior guard Kendall Bresee is another key player for the Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team. Bresee was named to the All-NEC Second Team in 2020 and has shown tremendous improvement since her freshman season.
The team also has several talented newcomers who are expected to make an impact this season. Freshman guard Bridget Birkhead was a highly touted recruit and is expected to provide a spark off the bench. Freshman forward Rebecca Lee is another talented newcomer who is expected to contribute right away.
The Keys to Success
So what has been the key to the Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team's success? There are several factors that have contributed to the team's dominance in recent years.
One key factor is the team's defense. The Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team has one of the best defenses in the NEC, allowing just 57.6 points per game in the 2019-20 season. The team's ability to force turnovers and make it difficult for opponents to score has been a major factor in their success.
The team's offense has also been a key factor in their success. The team has consistently been one of the top scoring teams in the NEC, averaging 67 points per game in the 2019-20 season. The team's ability to move the ball and find open shots has been a major part of their success on the offensive end.
Finally, the team's coaching has been a major factor in their success. Head coach Maria Marchesano has done a tremendous job of building a winning culture at Mount St Mary's University. Her ability to recruit talented players and develop them into successful athletes has been a major reason for the team's recent success.
Conclusion
The Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team is a dominant force in the NEC and has a rich history of success. The team's current roster is filled with talented players who all contribute to the team's success. With a strong defense, talented offense, and excellent coaching, the Mount St Mary's Women's Basketball team is poised to continue their winning ways for years to come.
