By Zach Waltz
Sports Assignment Editor
Sophomore forward Katie Healy has put on an impressive display of skill this season for the Bonnies.
Healy is averaging 15.4 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game, both team highs. She is also leading the team with 30 blocks and 59 assists.
Healy said most of her stats come from opportunities her teammates give her.
“My stats come from how teams decide to play us,” Healy said. “If they try to stop my scoring and rebounding, other teammates make up for that, and it also allows me to find my teammates and get them open shots.”
Healy gets the majority of her shots from the paint, giving the Bonnies a dominant post presence when she’s on the floor.
Healy said her work in practice is what gives her an advantage in games.
“It all comes with practice,” Healy said. “Finishing with contact and in traffic is something we do a lot in practice, so then in games, it translates.”
Healy said she would like to improve her jump shot to open her offensive game.
“I definitely am looking forward to improving my mid-range game,” Healy said. “It is something I do work on but not necessarily focus on. That’s what I’m going to look to work on in the postseason.”
With a 16-6 overall record and a 5-2 conference record, the Bonnies are in fifth in the A-10 standings.
The team has been significantly better in the Reilly Center with a 7-1 record at home. Healy said the team has great chemistry, which stems from their relationships when they aren’t playing basketball.
“A lot of our chemistry comes from getting along off the court,” Healy said. “We learn what each teammate does well and where they want the ball in what situations and when that happens in games, good things happen.”
With senior forward Chelsea Bowker and fifth-year senior Jill Murphy being the only two upperclassmen, a lot of emphasis has been placed on the sophomore class to play big roles. Healy said the sophomores will continue to improve as they get more playing time together.
“Us sophomores need to continue to work hard and want to get better,” Healy said. “The more we play together, the better our chemistry is going to be and (we’ll have) better results.”
With senior leadership at a minimum, Healy has been looked upon to step up and be a leader on the team.
She said her leadership comes from scoring in big situations to get the team excited and give them confidence.
“I think we have leaders for different aspects of the game,” Healy said. “Chelsea is a great vocal leader, Emily (Michael) does a good job at maintaining our cool in situations where we are struggling. I think a lot of times, I show leadership through scoring. If we’re struggling in a game and I get an easy basket, that gets my teammates going and almost gives them confidence. That also gets our defense going.”
