PITTSBURGH — The numbers are there — and could be even better.

Butler graduate Mackenzie O’Donnell, a senior post player for the La Roche College women’s basketball team, is wrapping up a stellar career with the Redhawks.

“She’s been so steady for us,” La Roche coach Kam Gissendanner said. “You always know what you’re getting with Mackenzie.

“As good as her numbers have been, she’s capable of doing more. That’s what I’m looking forward to seeing.”

O’Donnell has failed to score in double figures only twice in the Redhawks’ first 11 games this season. She is averaging 13.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

She has produced 1,257 points, more than 500 rebounds and 134 blocked shots as a four-year starter. O’Donnell needs to average 17.3 points over the team’s last 14 games to reach 1,500 career points prior to the postseason.

Only three players have scored 1,500 points in the program’s history. O’Donnell has been teammates with two of them: fellow Butler graduate Casie Cygan and current teammate Sabrina McLin.

McLin is 41 points away from breaking Cygan’s La Roche scoring record.

“It’s a goal of mine, but not my main focus,” O’Donnell said of 1,500 points. “I didn’t get to score 1,000 in high school, so I wanted to do that here.

“Once I passed 1,000, the goal became getting that total up as far as I can.

O’Donnell ranks fourth on La Roche’s all-time scoring list.

“From the time Mackenzie stepped into our gym, she’s gotten it,” Gissendanner said. “She knows what our program is all about. She’s so unselfish, willing to do what it takes to help us win.

“She’s always guarding the biggest player on the opposition. She gives up her body a lot while doing so, but she can do it. She’s a physical player.”

Gissendanner has coached Cygan, McLin and O’Donnell in recent years.

“That’s been my honor,” the coach said. “They’re all great kids who have earned what they’ve gotten on the court by working hard. I can’t take credit for that.”

The Redhawks have won seven consecutive Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference titles and are off to a 4-0 start in league play this year. La Roche has only had its “big three” of McLin (24.8 ppg.), TiChina Mitchell (30.3 ppg.) and O’Donnell on the floor together for one game.

McLin has missed a few games with an injury and Mitchell was dealing with academic issues during the first semester.

“I don’t feel like my role has changed here at all,” O’Donnell said. “We’re still running the same plays we ran my freshman year. It’s just a matter of getting us all on the court at the same time.”

And producing at the same time as well.

“Just because one girl is averaging 30 points and another 25, it doesn’t mean McKenzie can’t get 20 or 30 a night herself,” Gissendanner said.”That potential is in there.”

O’Donnell is majoring in sociology and psychology with a minor in forensic psychology. She will serve an internship next semester and hopes to become a juvenile probation officer in Butler.

She plans to stay connected to basketball after this season.

“This (college career) went by so fast. I feel like I’m just stepping on campus here,” O’Donnell said. “I’m sure I’ll pick up with some rec team next year and keep playing. I wouldn’t mind coaching, too.

“Since I don’t play softball anymore, I’m assistant junior high softball coach at Butler. I like it, but it’s a strange feeling not being out there playing. I’m sure coaching basketball would feel the same way.”