By Jeremy Castro, Staff Writer
Sophomore guard Danielle Migliore has taken a big step forward this year for the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team.
From averaging 8.1 minutes and 1.7 points per game last season, Migliore is averaging 31.5 minutes this season, and dropped a career high 21 points and five three-pointers in the team’s opening win against Niagara University.
A large amount of this early success can be attributed to the work Migliore put into the most recent offseason.
“I worked really hard in the offseason and was in the gym a lot,” Migliore said. “But it is not just me, it has been the team working together. Look at Mar [Mariah Ruff] our first game. She had 14 assists, so that had a lot to do with her, so it is not just me. Obviously the whole team gelling together is going to make us a lot more successful.”
Migliore’s relationship with her teammates is very strong and extends beyond the court.
“With my team, we all love each other to death – on and off the court,” Migliore said.
Despite the credit she gives her teammates, Migliore has taken strides to improve her individual game from last season.
“I mainly worked on my mental aspect,” Migliore said. “Last year I would get down on myself a lot and get frustrated, which lead to me messing up the next play. I worked on my confidence, and that is at a much higher level. Also, my shot in the gym. Just shooting a lot and really working on the same shot.”
Women’s head coach Jesse Fleming commented on how he felt Migliore has improved since last season.
“Just the whole thing,” Fleming said. “Last year, she was her worst enemy, and I was probably number two on that enemy list. She [Danielle] was not very confident – one mistake, and Danielle would be done; one missed shot, and she would be done.”
Fleming went on to talk about just how hard Migliore worked over the summer.
“Danielle had one of the best summers of any player that I have coached,” Fleming said. “She came in here and just worked her tail off and not just on the floor stuff, but she worked on her mental game as well.”
Migliore’s improvements are extremely noticeable according to Fleming.
“She worked on being more confident and not letting mistakes bug her so much. She has just improved so much on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, said Fleming. “She went from playing 7-8 minutes a night and was not getting of the bench in some of those games last year, to now playing 30 minutes, and it has been a good 30 minutes.”
Fleming went on to talk about what makes the unique player she has become.
“She can really shoot it,” Fleming said. “She has gotten her release better. She has gotten her form better. [Migliore] is a physical kid that can go rebound – she had 11 rebounds last game – so she is a guard that not only can shoot it, but she can do other things with her physicality.”
Despite only scoring six points in a 70-62 loss to Siena College, Migliore grabbed 11 rebounds, showing her versatility as a player.
Fleming explains his bright hopes for Migliore’s future.
“I think she can be a really, really good guard in this league,” Fleming said. “I think she can shoot it, but I also think she is going to be able to consistently put it on the floor as well. She is physical, can rebound and defend. She can be really, really good that way.”
Migliore and the rest of the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team continue their two-game road trip at Canisius College on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The team then returns to the Reilly Center for a game against Eastern Michigan University on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Women’s head coach Jesse Fleming commented on how he felt Migliore has improved since last season.
“Just the whole thing,” Fleming said. “Last year, she was her worst enemy, and I was probably number two on that enemy list. She [Danielle] was not very confident – one mistake, and Danielle would be done; one missed shot, and she would be done.”
Fleming went on to talk about just how hard Migliore worked over the summer.
“Danielle had one of the best summers of any player that I have coached,” Fleming said. “She came in here and just worked her tail off and not just on the floor stuff, but she worked on her mental game as well.”
Migliore’s improvements are extremely noticeable according to Fleming.
“She worked on being more confident and not letting mistakes bug her so much. She has just improved so much on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, said Fleming. “She went from playing 7-8 minutes a night and was not getting off the bench in some of those games last year, to now playing 30 minutes, and it has been a good 30 minutes.”
Fleming went on to talk about what makes the unique player she has become.
“She can really shoot it,” Fleming said. “She has gotten her release better. She has gotten her form better. [Migliore] is a physical kid that can go rebound – she had 11 rebounds last game – so she is a guard that not only can shoot it, but she can do other things with her physicality.”
Despite only scoring six points in a 70-62 loss to Siena College, Migliore grabbed 11 rebounds, showing her versatility as a player.
Fleming explains his bright hopes for Migliore’s future.
“I think she can be a really, really good guard in this league,” Fleming said. “I think she can shoot it, but I also think she is going to be able to consistently put it on the floor as well. She is physical, can rebound and defend. She can be really, really good that way.”
Migliore and the rest of the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team continue their two-game road trip at Canisius College on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The team then returns to the Reilly Center for a game against Eastern Michigan University on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
