Jan. 16, 2006
When she was at Trenton High it never took Mykeema Ford long to make her presence known on the basketball court.
Now, a junior at Stony Brook University it took her just 49 seconds to become part of the Seawolves history when she converted a free throw against Vermont to score the 1,000th point of her career.
"It really meant a lot,'' said Ford. "But, it would not have had the same value if we didn't get the win. It was really great that it was at home because then my family and friends were able to be there.''
The Seawolves (9-5, 2-1 America East) took a 67-57 win against Vermont and when the game ended Ford had tied her season-high with 21 points and added eight assists.
There was many a game in Tornado Alley when it would've been the points and not the assists that mattered most to Ford.
"When I was in high school I could pretty much do as I wanted,'' recalled Ford. "A lot seemed to depend on me. But, I've grown so much as a person and a player.''
As a player the growth is evident in her 16.3 points a game, which is the second best in the conference. She is first in the America East in assists with a 5.6 average a game and she is first in assist/turnover ratio at 1.80. Ford has been in double figures in 56-of-72 career games.
"I shot a lot more in my freshman year,'' said Ford. "But, now I'm trying to get more balance to my game. I want to get my teammates more involved.''
Off the court, Ford has been involved in the academic aspect just as much as the athletic. A Women's Studies major, Ford is carrying a 3-0 GPA, but while the future should hold a well deserved degree, it will most certainly have a basketball in it.
Ford, who ranks 12th in points, 12th in field goals, 2nd in 3-point field goals and 6th in assists in the Seawolves career statistics, would like to continue her career after graduation in 2007 in the WNBA.
Ford was joined by teammate Jessica Smith in the 1,000-point club on Saturday when Smith, who leads the conference in scoring, reached the lofty plateau in Stony Brook's 72-69 win over New Hampshire.
It's been the play of Ford and Smith that has the Seawolves in the chase for a conference title and a NCAA berth. If the future does hold a conference championship it could lead to a very special visit back home as the first two rounds of the NCAA Tourney are going to be held a Sovereign Bank Arena.
Ford has become a much different player then the one Mercer County fans remember racing up and down the court in high school.
"I didn't have the best attitude in high school,'' Ford said. "When things didn't go my way I'd send out bad vibes and the rest of the team fed off it. Now, I realize I don't have to score to have a good game and I just want to do whatever it takes to help the team win. The coaches here have really helped me a lot. I've really grown.''
Her growth, both on and off the court are continuing and Ford is enjoying a great college experience.
"We are just like family here and I'm very happy,'' Ford said. "Everyone is working together.''
She is still a presence on the court, but now Ford is so much more then just a great player.
Women's Basketball: Lindsay Krasna (Pennsbury) was named to the Ivy League honor roll for her play at Cornell. The former Falcon scored 20 points in the Big Red's 70-69 loss to TCU..........Erica Davis (Northern Burlington), who missed the first seven games, got 14 in the Yale's win over Lehigh.........Christina Campion (Peddie) has missed the last several games for Richmond with a back injury. Prior to the injury the Hamilton Square native was the Spiders second leading scorer and rebounder.........Jenna Graber (Peddie) hit a big 3-pointer for La Salle in their 66-64 overtime loss to Temple.......Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro) had 10 points when No. 6 Maryland fell to No. 2 Duke, 86-68...........Shanna Oaddams (Willingboro) is averaging a team high 19.2 points a game at Shippensburg. Oaddams is nearing the 1,000 point plateau.......Erin Walton (Northern Burlington) netted 26 points as Elizabethtown downed the University of the Virgin Islands, 57-35.
Men's Basketball: Sean Cooke (Notre Dame) scored 24 points, including the 1,400th of his remarkable career in leading Bentley to an 81-60 win over Assumption.........Rutgers-Camden might be struggling in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, but Michael Clay (Burlington County Vo.Tech) is doing his part as he recently had a career high 11 points in a 91-71 loss Worcester State.........Christian Burns (Hamilton), who is averaging 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds a game, had 17 points in Philadelphia University's 71-60 win over Adelphi...........Kyle Flanagan (Steinert) has appeared in five games for Philadelphia...........Rich Rodd (Lawrenceville) has appeared in eight games for Franklin & Marshall..........Floyd Morris (Peddie) has started all 11 games or 6-5 Stevens.
Women's Soccer: Carli Lloyd (Delran), the former All-American that played her college soccer at Rutgers University has been named to the United States Women's National team that will compete in the Four Nations Tournament in southeastern China. Besides the United States and China, Norway and France will be competing.
Track: Renee Passalacqua (Rancocas Valley) won the 800-meter for Towson in the Ursinus Indoor Classic and Laura Passalacqua (Rancocas Valley) won the high jump.
Football: J.T. Hutchinson (West Windsor-Plainsboro South) finished the Penn Sprint Football season with 397 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns. Hutchinson, who also plays baseball at Penn, was voted the Sprint captain for 2006............Drew Dampier (West Windsor-Plainsboro South) had five tackles for Penn...........Peter Stevens (Lawrenceville) finished his freshman season at Penn with eight tackles for the Sprint team.
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