Making her points
LATROBE — Maria Baroffio never envisioned herself as a scorer — it just turned out that way.
A senior guard at St. Vincent College, Baroffio wasn't expected to score a lot when she played basketball at Butler High. But with the Bearcats, she recently recorded her 1,000-career point.
“I didn't score 1,000 points in high school,” Baroffio said. “Amy Achesinski (currently at Mercyhurst College) — everything went around her.
Before this season started, Baroffio learned she had 882 career points in her first three seasons in Latrobe. With a holiday tournament looming in late December, Baroffio wanted to set the record at home.
“I tried real hard to get it before we left for Florida,” she said. “I was happy to do it in front of family.”
Entering Wednesday night's game against Waynesburg College, Baroffio had 1,077 points. She is averaging 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.8 assists a game to help the Bearcats post a 12-1 record, 6-0 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
St. Vincent head coach Jimmy Petruska knew what he was getting when he recruited Baroffio. His family has known her since she was in seventh grade.
“She was a very electric guard at a top high school program in Quad-A,” Petruska said. “I thought she was underrated in high school.
“She's progressed here. She has the idea of what we want to do and understands it,” he added.
While at Butler, Baroffio averaged 6.8 points per game, but finished the season with a 24-point outburst in a WPIAL playoff game against Gateway.
As a senior, Baroffio was second to Achesinski in scoring with 9.3 points per contest.
Baroffio has played all three guard positions for the Bearcats and currently runs the point.
“She's been a better passer, a better rebounder and her outside play has been great,” Petruska noted.
Baroffio wanted to step up her game on defense, and she has shown improvement there as well.
“Like they say, ‘Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships,'” Baroffio said.
Baroffio, who chose St. Vincent because she liked the school and knowing Petruska made the transition easier, found the style of play similar to what she knew.
“I liked the fast pace, up-tempo, and I was used to that at Butler,” Baroffio noted.
What Baroffio has done for the program should carry on after she plays her final game with the Bearcats, Petruska said.
“Her preseason workouts are great,” the coach said. “She gets in the weight room and does some sprint workouts in the pool. At Division III, our workouts are very demanding.
“Verbally, she knows how and when to ask questions. As a coach, she keeps you on your toes.”
