The Top Freshmen Forwards/Centers on Top 75 teams
Who are the newcomers making tremendous impacts for their respective programs, playing consistent minutes and stepping into key roles?
Welcome to a Monday edition of The Scoop on D3 Women’s Hoops! At this point in the year, most teams have established clear rotations and are entering the bulk of their conference schedules. We often hear a lot about the experienced juniors and seniors guiding their teams in the push for league titles and NCAA Tournament bids, but what about the freshmen? Who are the newcomers making tremendous impacts for their respective programs, playing consistent minutes and stepping up?
I thought I’d take a look at that question over the course of this week. Today is a look at 10 of the top freshmen forwards and centers on Top 75 teams (must be listed as a forward/center on the roster). Friday will then be a look at the Top 10 freshmen guards amongst Top 75 teams (plus a few more forwards). These lists have been compiled using the same baseline data requirements: players must have played at least 5% of their team’s minutes (about 10 min/game), and stat rankings are based on their points + rebounds per 30 minutes, not per game averages.
Do know that this is just one way of attempting to quantify the impact of a player. As with every metric, it does have its flaws, though the hope is for this to be a fairly accurate look at a player’s production on the court. So don’t taking this list as a 1-through-10 “ranking” as much as a compiling of standout freshmen worthy of recognition. Especially considering that each of these players are contributing in different ways and roles for their respective teams, some starting every game, others coming off the bench frequently, but for short stints of time. Just keep that in mind as you read!
Most importantly, thank you to Scott Peterson (d3data.weebly.com) for this data. Be sure to check out his website for more D3 women’s basketball data analysis!
Emma O’Connor - Christopher Newport
A 6’1 forward, O’Connor has managed to break into a tough rotation at CNU, and seen her minutes steadily rise over the first half this season. Adjusting to CNU’s up-tempo style of play and being able to run the floor always has some amount of a learning curve for post players, but O’Connor has integrated herself well, notably putting up 16 points in 16 minutes at Marymount on Wednesday night. The Centreville, Virginia product is currently averaging 6.8 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 10.6 min/game, which comes out to an incredible 19.2 pts/30 min and 10.5 rebs/30 min.
Tana Hoekema - Linfield
A 6’1 center, Hoekema contributed to Linfield’s best start in program history, as the Wildcats opened 10-0, and currently sit at 11-2. She has delivered solid minutes off the bench for Linfield thus far, particularly as a rebounder, averaging 3.1 boards per contest. That’s 9.0 rebs/30 min for the Everson, Washington native, who is also averaging 14.9 pts/30 min and had a season-high 12 points in 17 minutes in Linfield’s win over NAIA Bushnell. She is currently Linfield’s fourth-leading rebounder, despite averaging 19 minutes fewer per game than the Wildcat’s top three.
Keira Maki - UW-Stevens Point
The Michigan native was the Great Northern Conference Player of the Year as a high school junior and the conference’s Defensive POY as a senior, so it’s been impressive seeing that success at the prep level translate to her first collegiate season. Maki has assumed a valuable role for a 12-2 UWSP squad, averaging the most minutes/game of any player who has not yet made at least four starts. She has been especially important in the rebounding category, with 11.4 rebs/30 min (and 5.5 per game in 14.4 min), including a 16-rebound effort against Marian. She played only eight minutes in the WIAC opener against Platteville and didn’t see action against UW-Whitewater last Wednesday, but returned for Saturday’s game vs UW-La Crosse.
Leah Richards - Hope
Richards and her twin sister, Anna, have been amongst the most impressive freshmen in the country so far, as both average over 19.9 min/game for the nation’s 15th ranked team. As a forward/center, Richards has seen action in all 14 games, quickly working her way up to being one of Brian Morehouse’s most reliable players off the bench. Against Calvin two Saturdays ago, she had 10 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes, and added 10 points at Trine this past weekend, her fifth double-digit scoring performance in the last seven games. She averages 11.5 pts and 9.5 rebs per 30 minutes, and currently leads Hope in rebounding, at 6.3/game. You don’t see many true freshmen leading a Top 15 team in that category.
MaeSyn Gay - Hardin-Simmons
Gay and guard Jacqueline Berry have been terrific as true freshmen for HSU, with Gay ranking second on the team in rebounds, at 5.9/game. A 5’10 forward, her rebounding ability was showcased in an OT win at Pacific in November, as she tallied 19 boards in 25 minutes, including nine on the offensive end. The Burnet, Texas native also ranks second in the American Southwest Conference in blocked shots (18), including six blocks over HSU’s last three games. She currently averages an impressive 12.6 rebounds/30 min.
Paige Seckar - UW-Oshkosh
A 6’0 forward, Seckar is an Oshkosh native, contributing well for the fourth-ranked Titans and the team’s lone freshman averaging more than 7.0 min/game. She has averaged 11.8 pts per 30 minutes, already putting forth a few noteworthy scoring performances. In the WIAC opener against UW-Stout, Seckar had 10 points in 17 minutes on 4-of-6 shooting, and against Wheaton, she tallied 12 points. Seckar is currently shooting 49.2% from the field and 78% at the FT line, while also ranking second on the team in blocks (14).
Audrie Helmrichs - Coe
At 6’0, Helmrichs is the tallest player on Coe’s roster. That alone helps strengthen the Kohawks’ rotation and mitigate some of the height disadvantage, especially with Coe losing two 6’0 post players from last year’s roster. The Greenly, Iowa native has started all 14 games for Coe, averaging 27.4 min/game, the third-most on the team. She has tallied 10.3 rebs/30 min, and her 9.4 rebounds per game ranks second in the A-R-C. Helmrichs stood out especially in Coe’s 74-58 win over North Central (IL) in mid-December, puling down 20 rebounds in 36 minutes, the second-most in a single game in Coe history.
Annelise Dexter - Rochester
Another UAA freshman is on this list, as Dexter came to U of R after a stellar prep career at New Hampshire’s Pembroke Academy. The Division II Player of the Year for the state of New Hampshire, Dexter has carried over her high-scoring ability to the college level. While she’s averaging just 11.0 min/game, Dexter has been effective in her time on the floor, posting an average of 11.8 pts/30 min.
Sofia Baldessari - College of St. Benedict
The 6’1 forward from Englewood, Colorado came to CSB at the perfect time when the Bennies found themselves with a lack of depth in the post. Baldessari has fit right in, playing big minutes and starting every game so far. Averaging 27.2 min/game in 12 starts, her value to CSB is exceptional, as few on this list have played the kind of minutes or started the number of games that she has. Baldessari leads CSB in rebounding, at 6.4 RPG (7.1 rebs/30 min) and ranks third in points at 8.5 PPG (9.4 pts/30 min). Her absence from the lineup in the loss to St. Catherine this past Saturday was certainly felt, which highlights her importance to CSB’s season so far.
Natalie Beaver - Luther
Like Baldessari and Helmrichs, Beaver has started every game she has played in for the Norse this season. The 5’10 forward from Hayfield, Minnesota has played no small role in Luther’s 12-3 start; look no further than the massive road win at Coe last Wednesday for proof. Beaver was one of the best players on the floor that night, with 19 points and eight rebounds, and seven of Luther’s first 12 points in the fourth quarter. Beaver is averaging 14.9 pts/30 min and 7.7 rebs/30 min, having tallied the third-best pts+rebs/30 min total of any freshman player eligible for this list. She has recorded four straight double-digit scoring performances since Dec. 31.