The Super 75 – Introduction, Details and Point Guards
I have been blessed to be able to watch/follow/report on this region (and the whole of Division 2) for the better part of more than three and a half decades. My first season covering the region (in the guises of New England, Northeast and now East) was 1984-’85, so my memory banks are full to bursting. Having seen so many great players, the thought crossed my mind – how can I recognize the ones I considered the best? Of course, this is all subjective. Defining the ‘best’ is an impossible task under even ideal circumstances, so I knew right away that I had to create a set of parameters…
- First and foremost is that I actually had to see this player in action, in person. Not video, not reputation – actually see that player as a D2 player in living color.
- The player had to be playing on a team that was part of the D2 region (New England, Northeast or East) during at least a part of their playing days.
- No current active players considered, only players that have exhausted their eligibility.
That all seems reasonable, right? The next step was to consider how I picked the 75 players. Position was the logical place to start as most players fit into one (or maybe two) different positional groupings. For argument’s sake, I used the conventional five – point guards (1), shooting guards (2), small forwards (3), power forwards (4) and centers (5) – and asked myself what the primary profile of the role is. Roles have changed (in some ways drastically, especially with the three-point shot becoming more prominent as the years went along) but I decided to slot each player into their most natural position based on their era, roles within their team and personal preference. Thus, 15 players per position x 5 positions = 75. What did prove to be true was how difficult this enterprise was. I literally spent months researching and constructing this list but it kept on changing (I could have another list of 75 with the players that are not included). I don’t want to know how many times I re-wrote the top 15 at each spot – too many to count without a headache. Bottom line – if the player jumped out to me as a special talent and has remained that way through the years, she is here. There is no right or wrong, in the end, it’s merely opinion. If the pop, they stick.
Let’s take a step back and review the history of the region before revealing the first portion of player choices. At the start of NCAA tournament era play (1982), the New England region consisted of teams from the Northeast-7 Conference (now the NE10) and the New England Collegiate Conference (now defunct, with members scattered anywhere from the NE10 to the ECC to Division 1). The NECC’s final season as an entity was the 1999-’00 campaign. By then, the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) had already joined the region, beginning with the 1995-’96 season. The NYCAC morphed into the East Coast Conference (ECC), although their membership has changed more than any other loop in the region. The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) entered the picture for the 2003-’04 season, completing the current regional composition. Given that the NE10 has been in the frame from the start and has been the largest and most successful league, they naturally have a larger representation. Still, a full effort was made to try to present as complete a list as possible.
There will be an extra segment as we roll through the path to revealing the Super 75 (just trying to keep you honest). This bonus column will include players that excelled for teams that are now in the region before their program became part of the region as well as players from outside the region (and there are some all-time D2 greats here). That is for later on, though, so now let’s get to the first segment of the Super 75, the point guards.
The role of point guard has evolved over the years but the most important aspect of the spot has not really changed – they are responsible for the tempo and direction of the quintet on the floor. Ball handling, setting the offense, proper distribution and direction have always been a feature of the top PG’s but there is more to an elite player. The cream of the crop also scores in a variety of ways, from drives to three-pointers, and they do it when the game is on the line. Who would you want on your side, running the show in the final two minutes? Who would you trust to make the right choice to decide the outcome? That’s the crux of the argument for me. These fifteen fulfill that requirement for me and have winner written all over them.
Here are my fifteen that stand out, alphabetically…
Candace Andrews started her career at St. Anselm (’17) with a bang, being named NE10 Rookie of the Year and ended it with a flourish, earning NE10 Defensive Player of the Year honors. In between, the slick scoring point guard picked up a pair of All-League spots and racked up sizeable numbers. The 5-5 Boston, Massachusetts native proved her bona fides by scoring (1,478 points, #7 on the Hawks list), dishing (500 assists, #4) and picking pockets (267 steals, #3), annoying the heck out of opposing teams, who just couldn’t handle her all-around excellence. As an athletic, bouncy combo guard, Andrews could penetrate any defense and created opportunities for her teammates on a regular basis, such as the time she doled out a program-record tying 13 assists. Although St. A’s made only one NCAA appearance in her tenure, they did win 37 games in her final two years, setting the stage for later success. Andrews deserved mentioning last season on my All-Decade team (mea culpa) and she fully deserves to be on this list.
I confess to having a real soft spot in my hoop heart for the Philadelphia-style player. They know the game inside and out, always play 100% and have talent. Those are just a few of the reasons I remain a big fan of Sarah Abbonizio (Sciences, ’18). The do-it-all guard was the key element in taking the Devils to the 2018 regional final but even saying that leaves out her essence. After a decent freshman year, she broke out to start her sophomore season (36 minutes and 15 points per game) but was shelved after a knee injury just seven games deep. Many would have been unable to recover but not the 5-8 product of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Abbonizio bounced back and led the Devils to a pair of CACC titles and NCAA berths as an upperclassman while going 57-10. Big occasions were nothing to her, as she dropped in a career-high tying 27 points in a gallant NCAA tourney loss at Stonehill in her last game. Abbonizio could score (1,299 points), distribute and defend in equal measure and always sparkled in big moments. What’s not to like?
The first of three Bentley point guards on the list is Kim Brennan (’11), as durable as any guard in regional history. The 5-8 Locust Valley, New York native played an astonishing 4,369 minutes, starting every one of her 126 career games with the Falcons (34.7 mpg). Brennan was the catalyst in their 2011 regional final comeback win over Pace, scoring the last seven points in the final minute, including an unforgettable steal/drive that put Bentley ahead to stay and end a seven-year regional title drought. As a senior that season, Brennan sublimated her ego to allow a gifted freshman class (including Lauren Battista and Jacqui Brugliera) to shine and helped pave the way for what would eventually result in their 2014 perfect season. With career totals of 1,695 points (#7) and 495 assists (#10) high on the all-time Bentley charts, Brennan produced from start-to-finish and still holds the program record for points in a game (35) against Merrimack in 2010. Both a grinder and a star, Brennan belongs on any list of greats in the region.
When I was in high school (early 80’s) I enjoyed watching women’s college basketball on TV and seeing the likes of Cheryl Miller and the McGee sisters play. I thought those great players were from another galaxy and never from New England but the first time I saw Christine Donovan (Stonehill, ’87) in action I saw the light. Her acceleration, speed, ball-handling and dexterity was amazing to view live and made me a true believer in what women’s basketball could be. Donovan, a 5-5 product of Abington, Massachusetts, turned down multiple Division 1 offers (such as Notre Dame) and turned in a marvelous career for the Lady Chieftains (1,294 points, 655 assists and a school record of 15 dimes as a rookie). Stonehill won the NE8 title and advanced to the ’87 regional final against eventual national champion New Haven, a fitting way for her career to end, but what I most remember about Donovan was her style and what it represented. She was a precursor to the development of the women’s game and for that, she deserves a seat at the eternal table.
Jenna Erickson (St. Thomas Aquinas, ’18) enjoyed a wonderful career somewhat under the radar, at least until her senior season. An outstanding shooter and leader, Erickson played a critical role as the Spartans jumped into the ECC upper echelon for good. The talented 5-4 product of Melrose, New York provided tangible production and intangibles galore for the Spartans and improved her game every year. The one aspect of her game that always stood out to me was that she played at full pelt every second, never seemingly needing a break or letting her intensity wane. Erickson eventually closed her career with 1,826 points and 331 three-pointers, both among the best in ECC history. Her crowning glory came in her final season when she took home ECC regular season and playoff MVP honors while ending up in the top 10 in six different statistical categories. Erickson then directed the team to an ECC crown and led STAC to its’ first-ever NCAA tournament victory. As a player and history-maker, Erickson fits perfectly on this list.
Bri Fecteau (Bentley, ’01) never seemed to be in the spotlight enough for my taste. She was an exceptional table-setter while also providing offense and leadership at each turn. Her first three years as a Falcon resulted in three regional crowns and it seemed the same would follow as a senior but she suffered an ACL tear just before the start of that season and had to sit out the duration. The 5-8 Westbrook, Maine product returned for the ’00-’01 season and led the Falcons to a 31-3 mark, again proving her value. Fecteau ended up with over 1,300 career points and stands in the top five in program history in foul shooting (83%) and assists (573) while posting an insane 120-15 record as a Falcon (nine of those losses were to non-region teams). When required, the metronomic Fecteau pushed her team to victory, as evidenced by earning NE10 playoff and regional tourney MVP awards as a freshman but the lasting impression of her was as a leader and winner. Few, even at Bentley, have done it better.
When the topic of winners comes up on this list, Kelly Killion (Holy Family, ’08) stacks up with anyone. The hard-nosed 5-6 point from Pennsauken, New Jersey, was a classic no-nonsense floor general for the Tigers as they dominated the CACC (three playoff titles in her four years) and made multiple deep NCAA runs. The back-to-back CACC Player of the Year led HFU to an eye-watering 115-13 record over her four seasons and still holds a prominent place in Tiger history (1,574 points, #3 on the all-time list; an overwhelming #1 in assists, 619; and tops in triples, 313). Anyone who watched Killion play for a nano-second used the term ‘relentless’ to describe her. She was that way on defense, pushing the ball up the floor, running the offense – pretty much a full 40 of fury whether she was on the court or those infrequent times she sat. The only accolade missing was a regional crown but that was a function of some great teams in Holy Family’s way. It doesn’t dim Killion’s brilliance, either – she was a perfect example of a leader.
Despite never having seen a college basketball game until playing in one, Esther King (’95), holds a place in the long line of point guard greats at Stonehill. King was an electric mix of kinetic energy and mental acuity, ultra-skillful and blessed with the ability to play bigger than her 5-5 frame indicated. The numbers (1,190 points and still in the top five all-time in program history with 575 assists) were more than adequate but what made King (from Gateshead, England but of Scottish descent) so effective was her ability to rise to the occasion. A born winner (103-22 in her four years), King was the MVP when the Lady Chieftains won the regional crown in ‘95 (scoring 22 points in the Sweet 16 win over St. Anselm) and followed that up with a signature moment in the Elite Eight against Mercyhurst. With Stonehill trying to hold onto a late lead, King (with 10 assists in the game) went 6-6 at the line in the last 48 seconds to ice an 80-78 victory and send Stonehill to its only Final Four to date. Dependable and clutch, I just could not leave her off this list.
Although she tended to be in her sister’s shadow, Jennifer Leedham (Franklin Pierce, ’09) was a dynamite player in her own right. A consummate leader, the 5-7 native of Ellesmere Port, England, Leedham preceded sister Johannah at FPU by a season and by the time she graduated, the Ravens had come within nine points of a national championship. She was a clever and tough guard who could score (1,386 points, #8 at FPU), defend and flashed a complete floor game (second on the all-time Raven lists with 255 steals and 522 assists), all while showing extraordinary leadership. It’s no coincidence that Leedham was the head coach at her alma mater for four years not long after graduation - she was made for that role. A former player with the British national team, Leedham signed off on her wonderful Raven career with a sparkling 2009 Elite Eight, racking up a 16-point, 8-assist line in the quarterfinals against California (PA) and a sensational 31-point, 9-assist outing in the title game against Minnesota-Mankato.
The phrase I gravitate to when thinking about Kelly Martin (Stonehill, ’18) is ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’. Why? Well, she always found a way to maximize her teammates and make the best out of every situation. When the tide rose too high and all else failed, she simply took over and dominated the game. The 5-8 lefty from Scituate, Massachusetts had a career dented by two serious injuries but persisted and came out at the end as the leader in Stonehill’s first regional championship in more than two decades. Scoring (1,486 points), play-making, running the show – she did it all. Martin was the MVP of the Skyhawks regional title run (’18) and was sensational in their tight Elite Eight loss to IUP with 27 points, 20 rebounds and a ridiculous 16-18 effort at the line. Calling her just a point guard undersells her game greatly – Martin was able to shine in any role and at times felt like a throwback to earlier days, when players were able to flourish in different ways. Connoisseurs loved and appreciated her game, so she is an easy choice for my list.
Some players do their best work close to home - a perfect example of that is AIC’s Kristen Patterson (’02), who grew up in nearby Agawam and enjoyed a stellar career at the Springfield, Mass.-based school. The 5-6 Patterson led the Yellow Jackets to a trio of NCAA tournaments and first regional title while compiling 1,539 points (#5 at AIC) and setting a program record for assists. Also a great soccer player (NE10 Player of the Year in both sports), she helped the Jackets improve their win total each season (18, 20, 22 and 28) and always delivered in the clutch. The best example was as a senior, when she was the MVP of the regional tournament and took over the title game against Adelphi by scoring 22 points, including a key late triple and a pair of foul shots to ice the game. Even though AIC lost a double OT thriller in the Elite Eight to Glenville State, Patterson was terrific again (20 points). She stayed at AIC after graduation as an assistant and, subsequently, as head coach since 2007. Athlete, coach, legend – Patterson defines AIC hoops.
Speaking of locals excelling, check out the sensational McKayla Roberts at Le Moyne (’20). The 5-4 star from North Syracuse, New York, was as dangerous a player that the region has had in recent years. She rules the Dolphin record-book, topping the program in points (1,798), three-pointers (297), three-point percentage (40.7%) and assists (620) but numbers tell only a small part of her tale. She was point/shooting guard all at once, dictating tempo, giving LC a chance every night (and she played 35.5 minutes a game in 115 career outings) and rising to the occasion constantly. Roberts was the NE10 playoff MVP in ’19 as Le Moyne won their first league crown and followed that up by directing the team to their first two NCAA tourney wins. She annexed regional tourney MVP honors (believed to be the first from a losing team in the region) by scoring 78 points in three games, including a legend-inducing 35 against St. Anselm in the regional final. A great player in every sense, Roberts easily resides among the regional elite.
I have always felt that Colleen Sheridan (Saint Rose, ’00) was criminally underrated. A true combo-guard with the skill set to score in a variety of ways, the 5-5 native of Canandaigua, New York, was a superb all-around player during a magnificent career (125-5!) in Albany. After years of great but unsatisfying seasons in NCAA tourney play, the Golden Knights finally broke through and reached the Elite Eight in 2000, and it was no coincidence that Sheridan was the orchestrator. Her production was superb (1,505 points, 508 assists, 266 3FG’s and 44% 3FG, all among the best in Saint Rose annals) but it was her knack of doing everything right that stood out. Bad shots were not in her repertoire and Sheridan unerringly distributed the ball with accuracy and timeliness. She was tough, smart and quietly intense every time I saw her in action. It stunned me to think that many saw her as just another good player on great teams, which severely underrated her quality. Sheridan was a truly great player and deserves to be recognized as such.
The fastest woman I have ever seen on a basketball floor was/is Charlene Taylor (New Haven, ’89). She scared the life out of defenders who had no chance of slowing her down in the open floor or keeping her out of the paint. A 5-2 blur, Taylor was instrumental in leading the Chargers to 102 wins and the 1987 national title and posted numbers that resound years later (1,853 points, #2 at UNH; and tops on the program list with 603 assists and 419 steals). Taylor came to the Nutmeg state from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania along with a few others (including the great pivot Joy Jeter – I’ll get to her later) and immediately catapulted New Haven to prominence. The crowning glory was the ’87 title, of course, and Taylor was sensational along the way, especially in the semifinals against Northern Kentucky, where she netted 18 points, including a pair of free throws with :52 left in overtime to put UNH ahead for keeps. Numbers and accolades aside, I will always remember Taylor for her eye-catching speed and ability to own a game.
What may have been if Missy Wolfe (Bentley, ’92) had not injured her knee early in her senior year? Maybe the Falcons (who reached the Final Four anyway) would have won it all and not had to wait 22 years to celebrate a national title. We’ll never know for sure but what anyone who saw Wolfe play knows how special she was. The first big guard to really shine in the region, Wolfe posted an astonishing 84-8 record in Falcon colors (the team went 105-10). At 5-8, the Spring Grove, Pennsylvania native played bigger without compromising her excellent point guard skills. Wolfe scored (1,144 points) and created (709 assists, #1 at Bentley; and still holds the Division II record for freshman assists, 240) but it was her presence that helped the program ascend from regional contender to national powerhouse. Wolfe even adapted her skill set as the game evolved, evidenced by her increased three-point game (just one as a rookie but 89 over the next two years at 39%). Wolfe lacked nothing as a player or leader and it’s a shame her career ended too soon.
Next time out, we move onto the shooting guards on the Super 75 list. Until then, questions, comments, ideas, rants? Glad to hear them. Email me at Anfield13@aol.com.