Why do you think Natalie couldn't perform like this at UConn? I know the A10 is not a power 5 conference, but neither is the AAC. She was so dominant this season, she must have learned so much from Geno, but I'm not really sure I understand why she was so much better this year than all the years she spent at UConn. Any thoughts?
Observing her situation from afar,
I'd guess shes having the success at GM this year because of several factors.....
1. She starts = more playing time.
2. She knows she's not going to get pulled. She's the best player on the team, so she can just play her game without fear of benching. She's focused. She knows the team's success depends on her. Her teammates look up to her, she has a NC ring.
3. The talent level she plays with and against is different. George Mason is a mid-major. The rest of the teams in the A10 are mid-majors.
4. She's usually the tallest player on the floor, so she's not battling other 6'5" post players most of the time.
5. She learned how to play basketball at UConn. Things she would not have learned at Georgetown or George Mason. She's using the skills and techniques she learned at GM.
6. She having fun playing there probably stress free. She was dealing with some personal issues at UConn which may have effected on on court performance. It's likely she's no longer is dealing with those issues.
7. She's at home. She lives approx 3 miles from the GM campus. She's around family and long time friends daily. Her family is at every home game. GM is a better "fit" for her than UConn was.
8. Home cooking. Who doesn't play better after a steady diet of good home cooking?
As stated above, all of this is pure conjecture, just 1 fan's opinion.
She has 19 rebounds after three quarters; giving her 540 rebounds for the season. Courtney Paris had 539 rebounds in 2005-06 for the previous record. Natalie did it in 33 games vs Courtney's 36 games. Update: Natalie has 20 pts and 20 rebounds mid-way through the fourth quarter.
