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McFeely wants more than assist record at SRU

SLIPPERY ROCK - Amber McFeely continues to climb the career assists chart in the Slippery Rock University women's basketball record book.

But can the Grove City High School graduate and junior point guard get The Rock to climb in the PSAC standings?

McFeely is the only player to start every game for The Rock this season, but one more loss will effectively eliminate SRU from PSAC playoff contention for the third straight season.

The Rock plays at Clarion Wednesday night. Its final home game is 1 p.m. Saturday against Shippensburg.

"We need her on the floor, no question about that," SRU coach Laurel Heilman said of McFeely. "Amber would have a lot more assists if her supporting cast was playing like it can.

"She's having a solid year, but, in my opinion, all of our starters played better last year."

McFeely set The Rock's single-season assist record with 180 last season. She has 131 assists so far this year - passing Amy Neuhouser, Lisa Beinecke, Kim Sabol and Missy McKavish on the school's career assist list - while averaging 32 minutes per game.

She has 381 assists in her career. With three games remaining this year and her senior year ahead, McFeely sits third on SRU's all-time assist list, only 41 behind Kathy Lisman's record of 422. Lisman played at The Rock from 1978-82.

"I didn't come here with the idea of breaking the school's assist record," McFeely said. "I mean, it's nice, but I came here to win."

Instead, The Rock is wrapping up its third successive losing season after reaching the PSAC playoffs five years in a row.

"We press too much, at times, offensively," McFeely said. "We have to relax, run our offense and take the shots when they come instead of trying to be too perfect.

"I'm not the college player I want to be - not yet."

McFeely wants to be a well-rounded player, not just one adept at setting up her teammates, though that is a necessity for any point guard.

"A lot of coaches around the league tell me they'd love to have Amber, and I believe them," Heilman said. "She's a good player, but she is capable of being better.

"She knows the areas she needs to work on."

McFeely ranks third in the PSAC with 5.46 assists per game, despite playing on a team averaging a league-low 53.8 points per game.

Callie Iorfido leads the league with 8.30 assists per game while playing for an Edinboro team that averages 71.2 points per game, the second-highest average in the league.

"When your team is scoring that much, your assists are going to be up there," McFeely said.

Still, McFeely is not where she wants to be in terms of scoring or steals.

McFeely is averaging 5.3 points per game and has 26 steals this season. Megan Storck of California (Pa.) and Iorfido of Edinboro average more than 10 points per game. Iorfido has 76 steals while Storck has 56.

"I know I have to pick it up on defense and force more things," McFeely said. "And Coach wants me to average 10 points per game."

"Amber needs to be in the mix with those other players in terms of scoring and steals, just like she is in assists," Heilman said. "She needs to be more aggressive on the ball and get us more transition the other way."

McFeely is shooting 72 percent from the foul line, but attempted only 25 free throws in The Rock's first 22 games this year.

"She can probably double her scoring average if she'd penetrate more and force teams to foul her," Heilman said.

McFeely owns the single-season and career assist records at Grove City High School. She also played on winning teams there.

She yearns to do the same at SRU. That task might be even more challenging during her senior year.

The Rock is graduating its top two post players - Stacey Green and Erin Frankovich - this spring. Green is among the top 10 on the school's all-time scoring list.

"A lot more is going to be on me next year," McFeely said. "I'm going to have to shoot more and help develop new post players.

"I'll be prepared for it. I have to step up my play next year. It's do or die."

Here is how Grove City High School graduate and Slippery Rock University junior point guard Amber McFeely compares with other top PSAC West point guards:<B>Assists2003-04 Season</B>Megan Storck (Cal) 7.2 pg.Amber McFeely (SRU) 6.67 pg.Callie Iorfido (Edinboro) 4.76 pg.<B>2004-05 Season</B>Callie Iorfido (Edinboro) 8.30 pg.Megan Storck (Cal) 5.75 pg.Amber McFeely (SRU) 5.46 pg.<B>Scoring2003-04 Season</B>Megan Storck (Cal) 14.2 ppg.Callie Iorfido (Edinboro) 7.3 ppg.Amber McFeely (SRU) 6.9 ppg.<B>2004-05 Season</B>Callie Iorfido (Edinboro) 10.4 ppg.Megan Storck (Cal) 10.2 ppg.Amber McFeely (SRU) 5.3 ppg.<B>Steals2003-04 Season</B>Megan Storck (Cal) 132Callie Iorfido (Edinboro) 57Amber McFeely (SRU) 30<B>2004-05 Season</B>Callie Iorfido (Edinboro) 76Megan Storck (Cal) 56Amber McFeely (SRU) 26

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