ESPN Springfield Live Streaming Audio
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (February 23, 2012) - Three members of the Mount Holyoke College basketball team will be featured guests on ESPN Springfield's "College Weekly" tomorrow from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Eighth year head coach Michelle Scecina will be joined in-studio at the Basketball Hall of Fame by senior captain Tricia Chase and first year Amber Legare.
The program runs each Friday and focuses on local colleges and athletes. Listeners in the Springfield area can tune into AM station 1450 to hear the broadcast. It will also be streamed live on ESPN Springfield's website.
Tomorrow's show will be hosted by Chris Miracle along with John "The Dude" Walters and Mike Leonard.
Mount Holyoke came out on top in four of its final games due in large part to the emergence of Legare. The rookie made an immediate impact on the program with her outstanding play in the post. In addition to recording 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, she also piled up 38 blocked shots and 36 steals. The forward reached double digits in the scoring column 11 times and totaled four double-doubles.
Legare erupted for 21 points and four blocked shots in her team's dramatic 59-57 triumph over the Coast Guard Academy (02/11). Four days later, she recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds in their upset victory over Springfield College (02/15). Over the course of the season, the forward made 23 starts.
Prior to basketball season, Legare was a featured member of Mount Holyoke's soccer program. After starting the year as defender, she moved up front for her team's final seven matches. During that time, she scored in three consecutive contests and piled up 29 shots. Her goals came against WPI, Elms College and Clark University. She started all 16 matches for the Lyons.
Legare is also expected to be in instant contributor on Mount Holyoke's track and field team this spring. As a senior at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, she earned All-State honors and secured Division 1 titles in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump.
Chase was a mainstay in Mount Holyoke's frontcourt for each of the past four seasons. Over the course of her career, she appeared in 94 games, starting 78 times. In addition to racking up 599 points, she has also pulled down 509 rebounds. The forward reached double digits in the scoring column 22 times.
Her most impressive performance came in a 67-50 triumph over Johnson and Wales University last season, when she erupted for a career-best 18 points to go with 13 rebounds (01/24/11). It was her second of three career double-doubles. Just over a month earlier, the forward collected a career-high 15 boards in a 60-57 victory over Clark University (12/09/10). She was named to the Seven Sisters All-Classic Team as a junior.
Though she is majoring in biology, Chase is also working toward a minor in educational studies minor with a focus on coaching and sport pedagogy. She hopes to make a career in athletics administration or coaching. The Feeding Hills native served on Mount Holyoke's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years. In 2009, she spearheaded community outreach efforts for the NCAA Division III Field Hockey National Championship. Due in large part to her efforts, the event drew record crowds.
In addition to her exploits on the basketball court, Chase was also a four-year starter on Mount Holyoke's field hockey team. Throughout her career, the defender was an All-Conference and All-Region performer. She delivered eight goals, 15 assists and 20 defensive saves in 70 matches played.
In 2011, the Lyons earned a share of the NEWMAC regular season title and took home top honors at the ECAC Tournament. Chase went on to represent Mount Holyoke at the NFHCA Senior All-Star Game at the conclusion of the season.
