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Northern Essex Community College women’s basketball had its season recently get underway. Head Coach Malaquais (pronounced Malachi) Canery, said he believes the group “has the potential to be a really good team.”
Thursday night, the Knights defeated Thomas College’s junior varsity team 73-28, in the Knight’s first home matchup of the season. After the game, Canery shared with WHAV what he liked from his team in the win.
“We kept going. I think we started off really slow and I got on them and we responded and I think that’s a sign of a good team, that they’re able to respond,” he said. “I got on them at halftime. I didn’t like what we were doing that first half. I didn’t like our energy. I didn’t like our execution. We came out in the second half and we listened and we were coachable and we responded,” he added.
In its opening weekend, the team split a pair of games at the inaugural Roxbury Community College Alumni Classic.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Knights defeated New Hampshire Technical Institute in a 57-36 final. Sophomore Naiyalee Rivera led the team in scoring with a total of 16 points. Freshman Yeira (pronounced Jayda) Davila contributed 13 points, while freshman Julia Adams scored 12 and sophomore Kelsie Martinez put up 11. Sophomore Melissa Fuentes led the team in rebounds with 13, while Davila and Martinez each collected 10, recording double-doubles in the season opener.
Sunday, Nov. 1, Northern Essex fell to nationally ranked Kingsborough Community College by a score of 83-43. Despite the loss, the game was close at halftime, tied 32-27. Martinez led the Knights in scoring with 10 points. Rivera added nine and freshman Keyshla Rosario had eight points.
Canery ouitlined what he and assistant coach Cameron Stratton are hoping to see from the Knight’s five sophomore players of Martinez, Rivera, Fuentes, Faith Martin and Janissa Price.
“Just to come in and bring it every day. Not every day is going to be our day. We’re not going to make every shot. Just keeping a positive attitude and showing these freshmen the ropes. It’s a long season. There’s ups and downs to every season. So, I want my sophomores to really come in and in those moments be coaches, on the court and off the court and echo the things that Cameron and I are preaching ourselves.”
The Knight’s next game is Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., at Bunker Hill Community College.