By: Noah Dombroski, Contributing Writer
After finishing the 2018-2019 season with a 10-18 record, and winning just 5 out of 20 contests within the Sunshine State Conference, the Saint Leo Women’s Basketball program is looking to build on those records and make a run into the postseason. Their first two games of the new year have already proven that this will be no easy task, but the team is hopeful after their performances in these inaugural matchups.
Last Friday at the Gulf South/SSC Challenge at Florida Southern in Lakeland, the Lions kicked off their season against #14 ranked Lee University, where they led for much of the contest, but were ultimately defeated by 9 points. The team led for almost the entire first half before the Flames tied it up and caught enough of a spark in
the second half to build up the 9-point advantage that would end up being the decider. Senior guard Gina Brierley led her team with a 21-point effort, complete with 3 triples converted on a very impressive 60% clip from downtown.
Head coach Anthony Crocitto told the Saint Leo Athletics Program after the game, “Gina played phenomenally. She did a lot of things on the court for us today, including being a leader.” Considering Brierley led her team in points while also playing the entire 40-minute game, Crocitto’s words seem to be well warranted. Sophomore guard Alex Button led the Green and Gold in rebounds, grabbing 10 in her 31 minutes of play. Button also finished first in assists, notching 3 out of her squad’s 10. Freshman guard Amanda Ulrich finished her first-ever collegiate game with a conspicuous 11 points and 9 boards.
Speaking of Ulrich, the freshman from New Jersey would go on to top her inaugural performance in every way the following day against Alabama-Huntsville, peppering the stat sheet with a jaw-dropping 30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and just one turnover in her 44 minutes of playtime. The Lady Lions emerged victorious in the contest, which ended in an 86-75 decision in favor of the Green and Gold after the Lions claimed the overtime period 14-5. Button finished with 14 points on a 67% shooting clip and personally sealed the deal in the team’s 8-point comeback in the fourth quarter with a field goal that tied the game and sent it into OT. Junior Alani Gallagher notched her first double-double of the season, putting up 11 points while claiming almost half of her entire team’s rebounding total as she grabbed 14 out of the Lions’ 30. Another notable performance to mention is that of freshman Casey O’Shaughnessy, who scored double-digit points in both of her first two games at the collegiate level. Good things are sure to come from this young guard from Brooklyn, New York.
Crocitto has been very adept at his position at head coach of the Lady Lions squad and has made some very positive changes to the program in his time here, despite what last year’s record might show. With this new boost of talented freshmen like Ulrich, combined with the experience and leadership of veterans like Brierley, the sky really is the limit for this Lions team this season.
The squad will head to Alabama tomorrow to take on the Montevallo Falcons, a team that is 2-0 so far this year, and has beaten each of their opponents by an average of 20 points this season. The Lady Lions will certainly have their work cut out for them, but by the way things are looking as of now, there is no one in the nation that they can’t beat if they’re at the top of their game. The game starts Wednesday, November 13, at 11:00 am. Make sure to tune in to the broadcast free of charge and support your Lions. You can access livestream video of the game with commentary or check up-to-date statistics via the team’s page on SaintLeoLions.com, or through your D2L portal.
