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Former Creek star shines in Jacksonville |
2010-01-28 |
By Trey Alverson |
 Lynsey Paschal Three years ago, Lynsey Paschal led the Sandy Creek Lady Patriots to the Georgia Class AAA Sweet Sixteen. Now, she’s leading Jacksonville University on a midseason push toward the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been three years,” paschal said in a phone interview Wednesday.
“It feels like just yesterday I was playing for Coach Cooper at Sandy Creek.”
Paschal is averaging nearly six points per game for the 5-13 Dolphins, who played a tough early season non-conference schedule to get ready for the A-Sun. Paschal is among the team leaders in
rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw shooting.
“My assistants and I see Lynsey as a potential offensive leader,” said Jacksonville head coach Jill Dunn.
“We’re working with her and trying to get her to embrace more of that scoring role. She’s one of our more dominant post players.
She’s producing, but we still see potential to grow.”
Paschal welcomes the challenge of becoming a bigger part of the Dolphins’ offensive scheme. She is willing to do anything to help her
team win.
“I want to be a good leader, continue to be aggressive and help the team in any way possible,” Paschal stated.
Dunn said Paschal has had the right attitude since day one. Now in her third collegiate season, paschal is starting to showcase the
same confidence and big play ability that made her a leader at Sandy Creek.
“The biggest adjustment in going from high school to college is the mental aspect of the game,” Paschal explained.
“At the Division I level, just about every player you go up against is going to be as good or better than you as far as skills and
fundamentals are concerned. The difference really comes down to mental focus on and off the court.”
Dunn said Paschal’s focus in the offseason has helped her game.
“The biggest improvements we’ve seen in Lynsey’s development stems from her conditioning and overall level of fitness,” Dunn stated.
“She’s in much better shape now and she’s more accustomed to the speed of the college game.”
Paschal’s short term goal is to get the Dolphins back on track in conference play (the team made it to the A-Sun championship game in her freshman and sophomore seasons).
Paschal said next year she hopes to be the team’s captain.
After that, it’s off to veterinarian school. paschal is a star in the classroom as well.
“It will be a four more years of school, but I look forward to it,” she said.
Local fans can catch the hometown star in February when the Dolphins travel to play a pair of Georgia schools.
Jacksonville will be at Kennesaw State on Feb. 18 and at Mercer Feb. 20. |
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