TEANECK, N.J. – Monique LeBlanc believes the Northeast Conference is a “fun league”. One cannot blame her enthusiasm about the now-eleven-team circuit. Her Merrimack program, in its maiden season in the NEC, holds fourth place in the standings.
Merrimack made the move from Division II to Division I this season. They need to wait four years before becoming eligible for NCAA Tournament play. The result means sitting out from the NEC post season tournament for those four years. Despite the required restrictions on making the jump to Division I and the improved level of play, Merrimack stands at 15-8 (8-4 in the NEC) following Monday’s 84-66 victory over FDU at the hosts’ Rothman Center.
The victory was pleasing to LeBlanc on both sides of the ball. “We knew they (FDU) were a good three point shooting team,” she said. For the game the Knights shot 7 of 19 for 37 percent from deep. In the second half when Merrimack pulled away, FDU was limited to 2 of 10 (20 percent). “I was very pleased with our ball movement,” she added, “as we had 22 assists on 26 field goals.”
Following the discussion of the game just completed, the answer to the big picture needed to be revealed. Teams invariably struggle their first year or more moving to Division I. How has Merrimack been competitive from the outset?
“One of the things helping us is we played in a very competitive Northeast 10 Conference,” LeBlanc said. Another factor is recruiting. LeBlanc pointed out there were two or three Spring recruits that came on board knowing Merrimack was making the move. “If we were staying at Division II,” LeBlanc noted, “we probably do not get those kids. They are Division I-caliber and hearing we were going Division I , they came on board.”
The returnees she had were able to hold their own as well. Among them senior forward Denia Davis-Stewart, an inside threat scoring a game high 22 points against the Knights. Add in Kate Mager, a sophomore guard. Mager, knocked down four treys scoring 15 points against the Knights, had her own cheering section as coach and teammates from her nearby high school alma mater Albertus Magnus (NY) made the short trip to FDU. “Mager’s an excellent shooter,” LeBlanc praised, “and she has an outstanding basketball IQ as well.”
Despite not having the possibility of post season in the immediate future LeBlanc is thrilled about where the program is. “It’s been a fun ride,’ she said. “There are new opportunities and new challenges each night. We also play in facilities that are similar to ours.”
The first conference game came just after the new year at Sacred Heart. The Pioneers coach Jess Manetti remembers being, “scared to death. We knew how good they were on Division two and the personnel they had. We knew it would be tough.” Manetti’s Sacred Heart team pulled out a three point victory. “It was exciting and a memorable way to start,” LeBlanc recalled. “A really good game. We came up short but hope to return the favor at our place,” she added in a light hearted tone.
For LeBlanc, an associate athletic director as well as head coach, the Northeast Conference is an ideal fit. “It’s a great conference,” she said. “It is one of those ‘on any given night’ type leagues. There is so much parity and it is a league where anybody can beat anybody else. It is a great competitive conference.”
Merrimack, located in North Andover (Mass.) entered the NEC with familiarity regarding a few league members. Bryant is in Rhode Island, while Central Connecticut and Sacred Heart both hail from the “Nutmeg State”.
While Merrimack will not compete for the conference post season tournament, it is guaranteed their presence will be felt in deciding the final regular season standings.
In LeBlanc’s estimation the initial D-I season has been “a lot of fun and a little bit wild.”
