Freshman (Leesburg, Va./Tuscarora) ended her first regular season with a monumental performance against two of the top teams in the ODAC before going into tournament play. With the performance, Roach聽notched her second Royals Athlete of the Week award and also her second spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week.
In the women’s basketball team鈥檚 last contest with Lynchburg College, Roach聽put up a career high 30 points, shooting 63.6% from the floor. She also handed out a career high nine assists. To add to the impressive end to the regular season, she scored 23 points in a 74-67 win at Randolph-Macon. The team has made their name heard in the ODAC. In the preseason, the women were picked seventh in the conference鈥檚 preseason poll but finished tied for third heading into tournament play.
Roach聽feels that her team was special.
鈥淚 think that we had a rough start at the beginning,鈥� Roach聽said. 鈥淏ut after we started to come together as a team and started to win, we realized this was a special group who had an opportunity to do something special that no one thought we could do.鈥� With the impressive year, Roach聽put herself on the All-ODAC Third Team as a freshman, an impressive feat.
Head Coach Kevin Griffin was impressed with Roach’s聽performance through the entirety of the season.
鈥淐hloe has made a huge impact on our team and what we have accomplished,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淗er ability to attack the basket has really helped us on the offensive end in many ways. Chloe uses her quickness to attack and then we have other pieces around her that she complements and they all work well together. She has scored and yet even in her scoring has played unselfishly.鈥�
Despite the multitude of accolades and the impressive first year, Roach聽stays grounded and understands the work it takes to stay on top of her game with the seasons ahead of her.
鈥淚 feel like I had a pretty successful freshman year,鈥� Roach聽said. 鈥淚 learned a lot and I still have a lot more to learn and work on.鈥� Throughout the season, Griffin saw Roach’s talents, but also took note of her improvements.
鈥淐hloe plays fast with the ball in her hands and has really helped to create openings for other players on our team and she has developed a comfort level with them which has grown as the season has unfolded,鈥� Griffin said.
Roach聽understands that there are many聽factors to having a positive experience on the court. Before the ODAC Tournament, she聽simply stated that she wanted to 鈥渇ocus on the little things and enjoy the moment.鈥�