Franciscan’s first official foray into Presidents’ Athletic Conference basketball wasn’t an easy one.
The Barons entered the season with nary a senior on the roster. The team finished 1-9, with their lone win coming in a 49-45 road triumph at Chatham.
The season began, and ended, with a loss to budding cross-river rival Bethany, one in the opener, the other in the opening round of the PAC tournament.
But the Barons’ second season under head coach Sean Kirk had its share of positives too. For starters, the team found two cornerstone pieces in forward Angela Starre and guard Selena Coronis.
Coronis’ sophomore season was her coming out party, as she showed a penchant for successfully attacking the basket. Starre, meanwhile, provided nearly a double-double in the paint while giving Kirk a solid presence inside.
Others showed flashes of what could be with another season of seasoning under their respective belts. Statistically, however, the Barons’ numbers bore out a few areas that needed attention should Kirk and company wish to work their way through the PAC women’s basketball hierarchy.
For starters? The team needed scoring. Franciscan averaged an even 50 points per game during the PAC’s abbreviated season. Naturally, the pandemic played havoc with the team’s preparation and ability to find cohesiveness offensively before the season started.
But that total was last in the PAC and Kirk knew offense needed to be a priority. Not only that, but the team needed to find a legitimate outside threat.
Coronis is a capable scorer, but 3-point shooting isn’t her forte. The Barons as a team shot just 23.8 percent from behind the arc, last in both percentage and total 3-pointers made in the conference. Only one player shot above 30 percent from range—Ashley Benson, at 50 percent, but she attempted only six triples.
Kirk is pleased overall with his recruiting class, which numbers are nine young ladies strong. He feels they will be a feat not only for his team, but for the university as a whole.
“All of these young ladies bring a tremendous love of Jesus Christ and glorify Him through their talents on the court,” Kirk said. “They will fit in nicely with our current roster and help take Franciscan women’s basketball to the next level.”
Being a Catholic university, players at Franciscan need to be a good fit in multiple respects, not just with their athletic ability. That’s not to say these women any less capable as their other PAC counterparts.
Homegrown Talent
Kirk noted during the season that being in the PAC would allow FUS a better opportunity to keep some of the local talent in the area home and be able to compete with the likes of Bethany, Wheeling and West Liberty for players.
He admitted he was looking at a few players from some of the Catholic school programs in the OVAC and beyond, and he wound up landing one of the best.
Jazzy Melnyk is a 5-foot-8 wing who was named second-team all-W.Va. captain in Class A after leading the Blue Dons back to the state tournament.
A workout machine off the court, Melnyk’s athleticism allowed her to lead the team in scoring, while also averaging a double-double for the season, including seven triple doubles her senior campaign.
“Her athleticism is evident and is the foundation of why she is such a solid player,” Kirk said. “She is a three level scorer and will bring a spark to our offense.
“Defensively, she can guard the opponent’s best player.”
That was another area of focus during the recruiting process. While offense was the biggest need, Franciscan was second to last in the PAC in scoring defense, allowing 75.4 points per game.
Great production on the offensive end naturally will help, but adding a few players who can “D” up will certainly help.
Size and Scoring
Starre’s 5-11 frame and toughness in the post gives the Barons a tough No. 1 option inside. But Kirk went out to find the soon to be senior a bit of help.
He found it in 6-1 Maddie Doan from St. Joseph Academy in San Marcos, CA. She’s a back to the basket type of player who can also drift up to the top of the key and pop from the free throw line. Doan averaged 12 points and nine rebounds as a senior and could turn into a solid early-season complement to Starre.
“She is a versatile forward who can finish around the basket and play in the high post,” Kirk said. “She will also be a big presence on the defensive end of the floor.”
Joining Doan is 5-9 forward Kimmy McDaniels from Tucson, one of two players from Salpointe Catholic. McDaniels is a 3/4 type player who can attack the basket and will provide a solid push on the boards both offensively and defensively.
A multi-sport athlete, McDaniels helped lead Salpointe to a state title in softball.
“Her athleticism will allow her to guard multiple positions at multiple levels,” Kirk said. “She brings a lot to the team.”
Outside Shooting Help
Melnyk can hit the 3-pointers as part of her arsenal, but it’s not her main weapon.
But Kirk did find a pair of guards—one from near Philadelphia, the other from Chardon, Ohio—who can provide an instant spark to the Barons’ perimeter capabilities.
Chiara MacGillivray is a 5-7 shooting guard from Haverford High in Haverford, Pa. She also played for one of the premier AAU programs in the Philly area.
“Her ability to stretch the defense with her 3-point shooting will be the first thing everyone notices,” Kirk said. “However, her high basketball IQ is what takes her game to the next level.”
An inch shooter, and a few hours West in Ohio you’ll find Notre Dame Cathedral Latin’s Audrey Joyce. Joyce averaged nine points per game as a senior, including a season-high 18 against Magnificat where she canned six triples.
Joyce does more than just spot up and shoot though. She’s able to attack off the dribble and has a knack for dumping off to her teammates as added attention fixates her direction.
“She is a tremendous shooter as soon as she steps into the gym,” Kirk said. “She knows how to attack the rim and can find teammates off her drives. She’s a fierce competitor.”
Assists and Turnovers
Kirk made the 300-mile trek northwest to Wixom, MI to find a 5-4 dynamo who compiles assists and turnovers in bunches—just not on the same end of the floor.
St. Catherine of Siena Academy point guard Lauren Arena is a pass-first set of handles who gets all of her teammates involved, getting them the ball in the right place at the right time.
But Arena is equally adept at locking down the opposition’s guards, forcing turnovers and keeping players out of the scoring column.
“She is an all-around point guard who will bring a scrappiness and toughness to us at the position. “She can pick up 94 feet and guard the opponent’s point guard.”
Additional Guard Help
Kirk rounded out his second PAC recruiting class with a trio of guards, including the younger sister of assistant coach and Barons’ all-time leading scorer, Iliana Spoelman (Gonzales).
Coach Spoelman’s younger sister is Ilena Gonzales, a 5-6 guard who played with McDaniels at Salpointe and is an extremely athletic wing.
Kirk isn’t expecting the younger Gonzales to equal her sister’s production from day one, but he knows the capabilities he’s getting.
“I am thrilled to have Ilena be a part of this program,” Kirk said. “She brings a ton of athleticism and will continue to develop into a solid player for us.”
She will be joined by Seton School’s Emma Hickey and Cardinal Gibbons’ Mary Hollis Taylor.
Taylor was actually Kirk’s first commit back in December when the 5-3 guard out of Raleigh, N.C. made her selection.
“She brings a high-level work ethic and is a hard-nosed player who wants to be challenged every day,” Kirk said. “Her best basketball is ahead of her, and I cannot wait.”
Hickey, meanwhile, is a 5-5 guard who hails from Manassas, Va. She played for Dick Pennefather, who in turn played for Rick Pitino at Providence. All conference at the Seton School, she brings solid range and a high IQ to the program.
“She is a good shooter and will be able to pick up our schemes quickly due to her high IQ,” Kirk said. “She also comes from a solid high school program.”
