SAIT Trojansさん「From Drama City to the Stampede City: Maryland’s Moore stars for Trojans」
From Drama City to the Stampede City: Maryland’s Moore stars for Trojans
CALGARY — How do you relocate an American college basketball star from Washington, D.C., to Calgary, Canada? Well, says Orlandrea Moore . . . just try picking up the phone.
Reg Carrick, currently the associate coach with the SAIT Trojans women’s basketball squad, had coached Moore during the 2006-07 season, when the 6-foot-4 post was Ms. Everything for West Virginia Tech, leading the Lady Golden Bears to an NAIA Mid-South Conference title and earning an honourable mention for all-American status.
“I was working last year, and coach Carrick called me up. He said, ‘What are you doing with yourself? You still have eligibility; you didn’t play your last year; and if you come to Canada, you get your year back plus an extra year,’ ” recalls Moore, 26, who hails from Springdale, Md., a D.C. suburb.
“I told him: ‘Well, I guess I’ll be quitting my job soon.’ ”
While Moore’s arrival has helped turn the Trojans transform into Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference title contenders, her move to Wild Rose Country has also been a breath of fresh air for the towering American.
“There was the opportunity to get back into school, which I didn’t finish back in the States,” says the administrative information management student, who was off the court for the past two years because of “family issues . . . a lot of people in my family (her grandfather, cousin and aunt) passed away. Cancer’s big in my family. I just needed a break.
“It’s good to be back playing basketball again. It’s a big part of my life, something I’ve been doing since I was 12 years old,” adds Moore, who worked during her hoops hiatus for St. John’s Community Services, a D.C.-based, non-profit support group for people living with disabilities.
“And here in Calgary, I have the freedom to play without the pressure. Back in the States, the game is totally different. I’m able to enjoy the game, and enjoy the ride. I’m happy. This is where it’s at.”
She’s taken a tad longer than expected, because of a slowly recovering hamstring injury incurred in early September, but Moore is starting to achieve star status with the Trojans.
She served notice by draining 18 points and bringing down 14 rebounds on Oct. 30 during SAIT’s 79-55 win at Briercrest. And heading into the 4-0 Trojans’ two-game series this weekend against the 0-4 Red Deer College Queens, Moore is second among ACAC South Division shooters in field-goal percentage (55.9, or 19-of-34), and is averaging 10.75 points a game, fourth on the Trojans behind Rachel Caputo (2nd-year guard, Edmonton, Archbishop O’Leary HS) at 12.75, Kim Lee (5th-year guard, Toronto, CIS Waterloo) at 11.67, and Rachel Niven (5th-year guard, Calgary, OCAA St. Lawrence) at 10.75.
“She can be a dominant, dominant presence inside,” says third-year Trojans head coach Donovan Martin. “Other teams may penetrate past the perimeter, but when they get to the bowl and she’s waiting for ’em . . . she’s a great defender, great shot-blocker, great rebounder.
“Of course, that starts your own fast-break, when you have confidence that you’ll be getting the boards. It has a tremendous effect on the team,” adds Martin. “And she’s got a sweet shooting stroke. She’s as smooth as any guard in that respect.
“If she can get strong on that leg, and start playing a lot of minutes, she’ll be an incredible factor.”
This weekend’s twinbill begins Friday, Nov. 6 at Red Deer, and returns to SAIT’s Campus Centre gym on Saturday, Nov. 7 for a 6 p.m. tip-off.
Reg Carrick, currently the associate coach with the SAIT Trojans women’s basketball squad, had coached Moore during the 2006-07 season, when the 6-foot-4 post was Ms. Everything for West Virginia Tech, leading the Lady Golden Bears to an NAIA Mid-South Conference title and earning an honourable mention for all-American status.
“I was working last year, and coach Carrick called me up. He said, ‘What are you doing with yourself? You still have eligibility; you didn’t play your last year; and if you come to Canada, you get your year back plus an extra year,’ ” recalls Moore, 26, who hails from Springdale, Md., a D.C. suburb.
“I told him: ‘Well, I guess I’ll be quitting my job soon.’ ”
While Moore’s arrival has helped turn the Trojans transform into Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference title contenders, her move to Wild Rose Country has also been a breath of fresh air for the towering American.
“There was the opportunity to get back into school, which I didn’t finish back in the States,” says the administrative information management student, who was off the court for the past two years because of “family issues . . . a lot of people in my family (her grandfather, cousin and aunt) passed away. Cancer’s big in my family. I just needed a break.
“It’s good to be back playing basketball again. It’s a big part of my life, something I’ve been doing since I was 12 years old,” adds Moore, who worked during her hoops hiatus for St. John’s Community Services, a D.C.-based, non-profit support group for people living with disabilities.
“And here in Calgary, I have the freedom to play without the pressure. Back in the States, the game is totally different. I’m able to enjoy the game, and enjoy the ride. I’m happy. This is where it’s at.”
She’s taken a tad longer than expected, because of a slowly recovering hamstring injury incurred in early September, but Moore is starting to achieve star status with the Trojans.
She served notice by draining 18 points and bringing down 14 rebounds on Oct. 30 during SAIT’s 79-55 win at Briercrest. And heading into the 4-0 Trojans’ two-game series this weekend against the 0-4 Red Deer College Queens, Moore is second among ACAC South Division shooters in field-goal percentage (55.9, or 19-of-34), and is averaging 10.75 points a game, fourth on the Trojans behind Rachel Caputo (2nd-year guard, Edmonton, Archbishop O’Leary HS) at 12.75, Kim Lee (5th-year guard, Toronto, CIS Waterloo) at 11.67, and Rachel Niven (5th-year guard, Calgary, OCAA St. Lawrence) at 10.75.
“She can be a dominant, dominant presence inside,” says third-year Trojans head coach Donovan Martin. “Other teams may penetrate past the perimeter, but when they get to the bowl and she’s waiting for ’em . . . she’s a great defender, great shot-blocker, great rebounder.
“Of course, that starts your own fast-break, when you have confidence that you’ll be getting the boards. It has a tremendous effect on the team,” adds Martin. “And she’s got a sweet shooting stroke. She’s as smooth as any guard in that respect.
“If she can get strong on that leg, and start playing a lot of minutes, she’ll be an incredible factor.”
This weekend’s twinbill begins Friday, Nov. 6 at Red Deer, and returns to SAIT’s Campus Centre gym on Saturday, Nov. 7 for a 6 p.m. tip-off.
