PSA pg 1 4-4-19
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
PSA player
Robinson
commits to
Albany
PUTNAM —The 2019 class for the Putnam Science Academy Prep Lady Mustangs have had quite the year. Seven different ladies accepted scholarships to play college basketball in the programs second year under Head Coach Derek Marchione.
The anchor in the middle for the Mustangs would increase that number to 8 after this past week.
Abby Robinson, a 6-foot, 1-inch forward from Mount Vernon, N.Y., elected to stay near her hometown by committing to Division 1 University of Albany in New York.
Robinson didn’t play too much last season on a team that saw multiple D1 forwards go on to the next level, but she would earn her playing time this year holding down the paint for the Lady Mustangs grabbing a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.
She also saw her offensive game gradually progress throughout the season tallying seven games in which she scored in double figures. She averaged 6.8 points per game but was very capable of carrying the offense starting the season with 3 consecutive games of double digit points and even collecting a season-high 17 points in a win over St. Andrews in late February.
When coming to a decision on where to commit to play college basketball, Robinson acknowledged that “home is where the heart is.” “I chose the University of Albany because they offered many qualities that I aspire to find in college and being close to home was important” Robinson said. “The community is supportive and they have a strong basketball team that I hope to one-day lead.” While starting for the Lady Mustangs this past season, Robinson found her new established role on the team by being a force in the paint and on the glass where she shot 51 percent from the field.
So how did Robinson, who went from playing few minutes the year prior, develop into a crafty forward who could change the outcome of any ball game on both ends of the floor? You didn’t have to look much further than the Head Coach Marchione. “Playing under coach Derek helped me drastically” said Robinson. “Coach pushed me every day to get better and he knew I had potential so that drove me to work even harder to get where I ultimately wanted to be.”
Robinson made it eight Lady Mustangs from this year’s team to commit to play basketball in college under scholarship. The program is just in its second year. Marchione has now helped more than a dozen female athletes reach their goal of playing basketball at the next level all while coaching a Mustang team that placed third nationally in Prep girls’ basketball. Rhode Island, Providence, Canisius, Southern New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Becker, Marist and now Albany will not only have a former Mustang at their program next year but will also have hard-working and passionate women stepping onto campus bringing with them the Mustang Way.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
..