Two years ago, La Salle coach Mountain MacGillivray set out to invest in student-athletes that desired connection.
It was a young group, with 13 new players, and each of them answered correctly. MacGillivray and his staff challenged them that if they sought connection, to build it and invest in teammates.
The Explorers hit their stride towards the end of last season and came together as a group. That momentum has carried over into the upcoming season.
“We’re still young, we have seven sophomores and three freshmen, so just instilling confidence that got instilled in me,” redshirt junior guard Ashleigh Connor stated. “As we continue to grow and advance, I think that’s going to be a big thing for them. As they look up to me, whatever role they’re in, they’re there for a reason. They will excel in it if they do what they do best which inevitably will advance our team forward.”
It is clear that La Salle expects a lot of improvement and is ready for the season to begin.
“We have a lot of unfinished business, and we started it off good last year and now we want to move it forward,” explained Connor.
Here is a look at the Explorers
Coach- Mountain MacGillivray - 8th season
Last year- La Salle went 10-23 and 4-15 in conference play. The Explorers ended the regular season with a win against VCU and days later knocked off the Rams in the closing seconds when Connor beat the buzzer with a layup and foul during the Atlantic 10 Championship. Though the season would conclude the next day against Dayton, it was clear that La Salle found some momentum at season’s end.
“It was awesome having that moment to share with my teammates,” Connor reflected of her basket. “It was obviously a team effort to win that game with the ball falling in my hands at that last play. Just getting to share those emotions, the high and moving on to the next game with them was incredible.”
They’ll miss- Ayisse Magassa (7.1 ppg/4.6 rpg/44.3% FG), Jolene Armendariz (5.5 ppg/ 4.4rpg), Mackenzie Daleba (5.4 ppg/5.1 rpg)
Impact returners- Ashleigh Connor (10.8 ppg/4.9 rpg/80.2% FT), Aryss Macktoon (10.6 ppg/5 rpg/70 stls), Joan Quinn (9.1 ppg/81.4% FT)
Newcomers of note- Ivona Miljanic (11.1 ppg at Young Harris College), Yar Manyiel (8.6 ppg/8 rpg at Johnson County CC),
Reasons to be optimistic: Part of that growth comes down to finding players who are unselfish, skilled and talented, and MacGillivray has found a collected effort to seek a group desiring something bigger than self.
“They all seem all in,” MacGillivray said of his ladies. “I don’t see anyone breaking out on their own, they seem invested in each other and supporting each other on a different basis.”
X Factor- A couple of other key returners are Joan Quinn and Aryss Macktoon.
Quinn enjoyed a freshman season which MacGillivray raved about and coaches across the conference saw as well naming her a part of the A-10’s preseason all-conference third team.
“She brings a tenacity to the game, she brings a fearlessness,” he beamed. “She’s a typical Philly kid and it was really nice to see her perform well.”
With Macktoon, MacGillivray believes she is one of the program’s most impactful players.
“She’s battled injuries, but when she’s on the court for us, she impacts the game in a big way on both ends of the floor,” the coach explained. “She has the ability to be closely guarded, elevate, then not be guarded at all. That’s a real gift and we hope to be able to use that to get us some easy baskets when the game is on the line. She gives great energy and a passion that is contagious, and her athleticism is a big factor for us.”
Circle the date- In addition to the annual Big 5 games, La Salle hosts Mississippi State on Dec. 20, a team which advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round last season.
Bottom line: MacGillivray was optimistic about his team’s chances for success this season.
“We’re certainly a lot further along,” he concluded. “We have players on our roster that know what they are capable of doing in conference that can be counted on. It’s different but not as drastic as you would think because there is still a lot of room for growth. We’re still putting the building blocks of everything in what we do. We need everyone to figure out the system, but it is a lot easier when half of the pieces know what they are doing.”