Freshmen setting new standards

Team achievements are still main concern for struggling young Dukes

Amy Paterson / senior photographer Freshman guard Andrea Benvenuto drives past a defender toward the basket.

What's more important — individual records or winning?

If one was to ask any of the women's basketball players which is more important, all 10 would say the latter.

When freshman guard Andrea Benvenuto was asked about her chance to break the freshman assist average record held by Jess Cichowicz ('03), she just shrugged it off.

"I haven't really thought much about it," Benvenuto said. "I'm really just concerned about us winning games."

However, it's hard to overlook several milestones some of the freshmen could break — if they haven't already.

Freshman forward Lesley Dickinson already conquered the freshman season scoring record last Sunday. With five regular season games to play, Dickinson has accumulated 381 points, which surpassed the 372 points Sue Manelski ('85) scored her freshman season.

"I really wasn't aware that I was that close until a couple of weeks ago," Dickinson said. "But, when I found out after the game, I was happy. It's a big accomplishment to me to break any record."

Coach Kenny Brooks said that mark is something Dickinson has worked very hard to earn.

"She deserves it," he said. "She's played well, and to be able to break it with six games to go is a great accomplishment."

Her total this season already is the 22nd highest total in JMU history, and her current pace could move her into seventh all-time.

Dickinson, who is the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season, only needs one more double-digit scoring effort to break another one of Manelski's records. The two are tied for most games in double-figure scoring with 22 each.

Freshman Meredith Alexis also has crushed another JMU freshman record. Her 235 rebounds this season eclipses the 203 rebounds Gayle Freshwater ('75) grabbed. Alexis' mark already is eighth on the school's all-time list, and she is on pace to have the second-highest season total behind the record 316 rebounds by Katherine Johnson ('78) during the 1974-'75 season.

In addition, Alexis owns the freshman record for double-doubles with eight and the freshman record for rebounds in a game with 18.

"What Meredith has done is remarkable," Brooks said. "She's a hard worker, and I think the sky is the limit for her because she has just begun to tap all of her resources.

"Going into the season, I had no idea what to expect from her," Brooks added. "We knew we were getting a good player, but I had no idea she would be this good, this quick."

Alexis said she didn't have breaking records on her mind, as well.

"I just wanted to come in and play," she said. "My main focus was helping to improve the team, and it doesn't matter if I break any records as long as we win."

As for Benvenuto, she leads the CAA with 100 assists — which gives her the third highest freshman total in JMU history — in addition to being on pace to top Cichowicz assist average of 4.5 assists per game.

While Brooks said that mark is great, he is more impressed with her 1.45 assist/turnover ratio, which is second in the conference.

"I just try to do my best to get other people involved in the game," Benvenuto said. "I enjoy making a good pass and watching other people finish."

While the three freshmen are more focused on the team record rather than their own, they understand the achievements they have set or could set, according to assistant coach Nadine Morgan, who played for JMU from 1999-'03.

"I think they understand the magnitude, but they will not fully understand until the season is over," she said.

Morgan said her career milestones sunk in more after her career was over because when she still was playing, she didn't have time to reflect on them.

Dickinson said she is sure she'll do the same.

"I think when I graduate and look back, it will mean more," she said. "But, now, the team goals are most important — like winning and getting to the tournament. Those are more important than individual goals. I think, later on down the line, I'll look back and it will mean more."

Brooks said it's remarkable where the team stands, but they have to translate those into wins.
"I think we'll start to be able to do that as the season winds down," he said.

JMU sits in eighth place in the CAA standings with a 5-8 conference record — 10-14 overall. The Dukes travel to face rival George Mason University Friday at 7 p.m. in Fairfax. JMU won 64-53 when the two met at the Convocation Center Jan. 15.