Slippery Rock senior Madison Romanovich, second from left, reached 1,000 career points in Monday’s victory at Franklin. Submitted Photo

Teams facing Slippery Rock girls basketball this season are scrambling in an attempt to slow down Madison Romanovich.

With little success.

The senior wing is averaging 23 points per game. She scored 27 in Monday’s 53-37 win at Franklin, the sixth time this season she has scored more than 20 in a game. Her last basket against the Knights, which came in the fourth quarter, put her at exactly 1,000 points for her career.

She became the 10th player in program history to reach the milestone.

“I didn’t even know I was getting close until the end of last season when my coach (Jeff Steele) told me,” Romanovich said. “It’s an honor to be on that list, and I’m excited to be mentioned with great players.”

“Teams are playing zone against us, then doubling on Madison when she gets the ball,” Steele said. “She’s getting beat up night in and night out, but she’s put in the work year-round and she perseveres. She does nothing out of control and her willingness to get to the free throw line is a big reason for her point production.”

But points are just one aspect of her contribution to the Rockets (7-3). Romanovich is closing in on 500 career rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals.

“There have been some great players in school history here, Jence Rhoads and Heather Kearney and others. Madison contributes in so many areas for us. She could go down as one of the best we’ve ever had.”

Romanovich was a point guard when Steele took over the program following the 2023-24 season. He soon told her that she would be moving to the wing.

“I was sad at first, but I thought about it and accepted it. I realized I would be able to score more,” she said. “It didn’t take long for me to get comfortable with the new position.”

She averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per contest as a junior while taking on a leadership role. With a strong cast around her — Brielle Jordan and Gia Kovacik are averaging a combined 23 points while Kovacik and Vanessa Hinkle are both grabbing over six boards per game — the Rockets are hoping to improve on last year’s 18-8 showing.