Only four months into her collegiate career, Sharell Sanders has already made her presence known at Caldwell University.
The former St. Mary’s standout — who helped deliver two state championships for the Spartans — is enjoying her freshman year, playing in the highly competitive Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Sanders was named CACC rookie of the week on Jan. 5 and the ECAC Division II rookie of the week on Jan. 7. The 5-foot-5-inch guard is averaging six points, three rebounds, and two assists in 16 games so far this season.
Caldwell University is located on a 70-acre campus in the suburbs of Caldwell, NJ. Despite the distance from home, she remains grateful for those who pushed her to attain such a high level of success.
“I give a lot of thanks to St. Mary’s,” said Sanders. “Without Mr. (Jeff) Newhall (St. Mary?s athletic director and girls? basketball coach) and a lot of other great people at St. Mary’s, I wouldn’t be able to do a lot of the things I’m doing today. I give them a lot of the credit for everything I’m accomplishing.”
Sanders is doing more than just succeeding on the court. In her first semester at school, she earned a spot on the Dean’s List with a grade point average of 3.5.
“Keeping a high GPA was one of my biggest goals coming into college,” she said. “I really want to do well academically, and my recipe for success is working hard.”
Sanders’ willingness to embrace hard work has paid off on the hardwood, as she is earning Caldwell coach Kristina Danella’s trust by averaging nearly 18 minutes a game off the bench for the 9-8 Cougars.
“Basketball is a different game in college,” she said. “Players are a lot stronger and faster, so I can’t use my speed like I did in high school. Even practices are different — there’s a lot more running and a lot more yelling.”
The highlight of Sanders’ college career came on Jan. 3 when she set season highs with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a victory over Chestnut Hill College.
“My teammates have really helped me get better,” said Sanders. “That’s really transitioned from practice into games.”
Even with a taste of success in college, Sanders’ favorite basketball memory remains the Spartans’ run to the state title in 2014.
“I’ll never forget the Garden game,” she said, referring to the EMass final in March. St. Mary’s defeated Archbishop Williams, 47-45, at the TD Garden and Sanders hit the game winner. “That was an amazing game. I still don’t know how we pulled it off.”
Before heading back to practice, Sanders offered some advice for those aspiring to play in college.
“Listen to your coach and work hard in practice,” she said. “And always keep your head up and fight. You never know what’s going to happen in the end.”
Names and notesJen Ashton, a senior guard at Westfield State from Beverly, was named the MASCAC women?s basketball player of the week. Ashton scored a career-high 30 points with five steals, four assists and three rebounds in 24 minutes of play in the Owls? 78-57 win over Salem State…Rachael Carter, a senior guard for Salem State, was named to MASCAC women?s basketball weekly honor roll. She averaged 20 points, 13.5 rebounds and three steals in an 0-2 week for the Vikings…Salem State junior second baseman Richard Fecteauhas been named to the D3Baseball.com preseason All-America team. Fecteau, the reigning MASCAC player of the year, helped the Vikings to a share of the MASCAC regular-season championship in 2014…Salem State?s Cameron Banwell, a senior forward, has been named to MASCAC men?s ice hockey weekly honor roll. He recorded four points on a goal and three assists in a 1-1 week for the Vikings?Ben Sattiewhite, a freshman at Fitchburg State from Salem, was named to the MASCAC men?s indoor track and field weekly honor roll. He posted an ECAC-qualifying mark of 6 feet, 5.95 inches (1.98 meters) to place fourth overall all in the high jump at the Tufts Invitational.