Athlete of the Week: Jessica Chapin '10
In her last season playing Brandeis basketball, guard Jessica Chapin '10 is giving everything she has to drive the Judges to victory, putting her name down in school history in the process.Last Friday, Chapin put up 32 points against University Athletic Association opponent Case Western Reserve University, just two shy of a school record. Chapin, who already ranked on Brandeis' top 10 career lists in points, steals and assists, grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for a career total of 488, tied for 10th in school history, becoming the first player ever to ranked in the top 10 in all four categories.
While Chapin is proud of her personal acheivements, she is more concerned with the team's success.
"I thought I was getting up there [in points], but it was nothing I really knew about or was concerned about," Chapin said, speaking of her performance Friday. "I'm just out there to play, and I'm not worried about who scores the points as long as we win."
With the wins against Case and Carnegie Mellon University, the Judges now have a record of 11-6 (4-3 in UAA play). Despite a tough conference start, the Judges have won their last two UAA games, and Chapin says the team contiunues to be optimistic about this season and making the NCAA Tournament, which they've done in each of Chapin's three years at Brandeis.
"This year, we continue to hope," she said. "We're putting ourselves in a good position now to coninute to win in the UAA and hopefully make the Tournament."
After this season, the Judges will lose an all-time great in Chapin, but from what Chapin has seen of her teammates, she knows that younger players will be there to take up her role.
"I know [guard Morgan Kendrew] '12 is going to be there next year to fill my shoes, and [forward Amber Strodthoff] '11 is going to step up. You know, everybody's just going to have to step up when I leave, and I know that these girls will. They're competitiors and they're great kids.
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