Reaching the 1,000 point club is not only rare, but it is an amazing feat. Schools can go decades without adding new names to their 1,000 point banners. Fortunately, for University of Massachusetts Boston Women’s Basketball, this year, two players have been added to this exclusive and elite club.
On Feb. 3, 2015, Junior Olivia Murphy recorded her 1,000th point as she led the Beacons to a victory against Suffolk University. Murphy is the eighth player in UMass Boston’s history to reach the 1,000 point mark. Her success followed the lead of Senior Kristen Morrison, who recorded her 1000th point earlier this year.
On the court, Murphy has been a force to reckon with since her arrival to the Clark Center in 2012. Murphy has earned more awards in a single season than most players obtain their entire lives. Her freshmen year, Murphy was the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England Rookie of the Year, the Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, named to the LEC All-Defensive team, and the LEC All-Rookie team. Murphy carried her success into her sophomore campaign, earning herself the title of an All-American. There will definitely be more accolades coming after this season.
Offensively, Murphy is putting up great numbers. She is averaging the second highest field goal percentage and points per game for the Beacons. She averages roughly 14 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field. This is an impressive percentage considering she faces double teams night in and night out. Not only can Murphy score on the double, she knows when to pass off and facilitate others. Murphy is averaging approximately 2.5 assists per game. Murphy credits much of her success to the coaching staff. “Coach [Courtney] Mattingly has really helped develop my game,” said Murphy. “She brought in a post coach that has really helped increase my numbers on the low block.”
Defensively, Murphy has made her largest impact as a workhorse. She has been averaging around 11 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks per game. “She is a relentless and tenacious worker on the court,” said Mattingly, now in her fifth year. “Any time there is a loose ball, missed shot, or broken play, you can find Olivia on the other end. That stuff comes from intangibles like heart.”
Murphy is a power forward through and through. She has not attempted a single three all year and finds most of her opportunities with her back to the basket. Almost all of her points are carved out through footwork and low block moves. Regardless of play style, Murphy knows how to score.
Players like Murphy help change the culture of a sports program. Someone like her can take a team from ordinary to extraordinary. Having said that, she’s not the only reason for the success of the program.
“Coach Mattingly has been the most important change to our program,” said Murphy. “She has created a winning environment, has been a great friend, and most importantly she is a wise coach.”
Mattingly has made incremental strides each year she has captained the helm. She has brought in new specialized coaches, changed offseason training regimens, and recruited new talent in order to create a winning program at UMB. She is now only two wins away from setting the program mark. Regardless of the upcoming results, this year has been a historic season, as she now has her first two 1,000 point scorers.