TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

Detail the athletic experiences that you had while growing up in New Zealand.
It is a very outdoorsy, sporty sort of country. So when I grew up I played a number of sports. It’s different than here in America where certain sports are specifically concentrated on. So I grew up playing everything, from softball, volleyball, and basketball to rugby and kayaking. I really appreciate the fact that I had such a diversified athletic past.

Discuss your decision to come over to the United States to play college basketball.
It was always a dream of mine, ever since I was little. My family is very prominent in New Zealand basketball – both of my parents played internationally, and my dad is currently one of the top coaches in New Zealand.

I’ve been on a basketball court since I was months old. We always used to watch the NBA, and I was in awe. So I always dreamed to play here.

When I was younger it wasn’t a very realistic dream, but in my early teenage years a lot of New Zealanders began going to college in the States. I thought to myself, ‘Why can’t I do that?’ Everyday, I’m just happy to be over here playing.

What are the differences in American and New Zealand style of basketball?
The competition and the level of play over here is amazing. I was on the New Zealand national team at age 16, and our team came over here to compete against college teams and lost. There is phenomenal amount of talent here.

But the level of play in New Zealand is rising. Three of the girls I grew up with are in the States playing basketball. The majority of players on the New Zealand national team generally now have four years of collegiate ball behind them.

The actual game is very similar, but right now everyone is stronger and quicker here in the United States. There also aren’t any 6’6” players in New Zealand; there is a noticeable difference in the size of players.

Are you still able to play internationally for New Zealand?

I haven’t been home in a long time. The last time I did was two summers ago, and I did practice with the national squad then. I am still in contact with the coach, but unfortunately a lot of what the national team is doing occurs during our season at UB. They primarily compete in Europe during the winters, which is when our season is going on over here.

What was involved in the decision you made to come to UB?
It was actually a very ‘spur of the moment’ type of decision. I decided to transfer out of Hawaii fairly late in the season. I originally wanted to stay on the West Coast, because I love the warm weather and the beach.

When I began looking, the reality was that there weren’t many schools that had scholarships left. I sent videos nationwide, and it just happened to be fate that a videotape fell into Coach (Cheryl) Dozier’s hands.

She contacted me after I got my release, and I was asking, ‘Where is Buffalo?’ When I heard it was in New York, I thought, ‘OK, near New York City… I can do that.’ Throughout my research of Buffalo all I could find was snow. To me that was a little bit of a shock.

My recruiting trip over here was awesome. For me, the number one priority is to have the feeling of family around me, because I don’t get to go home. This is my home and everything I have is here. So it was really important to me that I had a good relationship with the coaches and with the team. In only 48 hours on my recruiting trip, I was able to develop a real close bond with a lot of the people here.

How were you able to benefit last year, while sitting out due to the NCAA transfer rules?
It was amazingly helpful to me. The system here is a lot different than Hawaii’s, and had I played last year it would have taken me several games to get used to it – the plays, the style, everything. So having that year, I was able to make a few mistakes in practice while adjusting and adapt to the style, as well as learning how to react and feed off the coaches.

Of course with the four seniors we had last year (Tiffany Bell, Mari McClure, Tara Perrier, Sonia Ortega), playing against them every practice only made me better. The guards were amazing, and going head-to-head with them in practice was awesome.

Over half of your career attempts in college have been three-pointers. How important is that shot to your game?
I definitely consider myself a shooting guard. Last season, I worked a lot on my dribble penetration, so hopefully this season my game will be a little more balanced. I’ve also worked hard in the weight room so I hope to be stronger in the post.

Coach Dozier is working to make me a more versatile player, and I am enjoying the fact that I can change things up. I like to shoot the ball, but Coach Dozier has taught me to be more of a triple-threat. It doesn’t come naturally to me quite yet, but it’s becoming more comfortable everyday.

How do you fit into Coach Dozier’s offense?
Wherever I’m needed to go. I’m in a utility role, having to know every spot on offense and defense. Sometimes it gets a little confusing, but I just want to play so I’m happy to play wherever. Naturally, I am a little better on the outside, but it’s a lot of fun banging around players inside.

Having lost the four seniors you mentioned earlier, how will your team respond? Also, what will be different about this year’s squad?
We are very young and have a lot of energy. We did a lot of off-season work on the track and in the weight room, and I’ve never been a part of team that has worked so hard. So, hopefully, we’re going to wear teams down and outmuscle them.

It should be a little more exciting for spectators too. We going to be pushing the ball up the court and pressuring when on defense. Our team has great chemistry, and communicates very well both on and off the court.

We are going to be a defensive-oriented type of team. We want to make stops, and will feed off of them. Though we are young, we’ve got good leadership and have a great attitude.

It’s a tradition for you to wear long socks for games. What is the story behind that?
I’m always one to be different. I’m not going to wear the same things everyone else is going to wear, ever. It started in Hawaii, and I have no idea why, because it’s so hot over there. It’s fun to wear them and it’s become a bit of a trademark now, so there’s no turning back from that.

-The “10 Questions With…” feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.