Sophomore Chrissy Delawder (Broadway, Va./Broadway) is already turning heads at the start of EMU’s women’s basketball season. Her per-game average this season is 10.9 points, up more than four points from last year. And she’s just getting started.
She provided the key scores in the Royals’ ODAC win against Lynchburg, tying her career-high 18 points.
“We as a team knew that Lynchburg was a really solid team, and we knew that it was going to be a tough game,” Delawder said. “The win felt really nice since they are a good team and it is counted as one of our conference wins.”
Delawder put in the off-season work to be well-prepared for her second season of collegiate basketball.
“This past summer I did Crossfit and tried to get in the gym as much as possible,” she said.
Head coach Kevin Griffin noticed her off-season dedication.
“Chrissy has worked hard in basketball, and that started this summer,” he said. “She worked hard on her conditioning and getting stronger and also put in a lot of time in our gym. I am very proud of her, and her hard work is paying off for her this year.”
With a different roster than last year, Delawder and her teammates have had to make the necessary adjustments in the role they play on the court.
“All of the posts on our team in general have had to step up and work on our rebounding,” she said. “We lost some good teammates, but we have had a lot of people on our team step up and make big plays. In practice we have all been working hard and pushing each other to get better.”
Delawder is an elementary education major, and hopes to teach in the nearby area after she graduates. She is also a community advisor (CA) in Cedarwood.
“Trying to find a balance has definitely been one of the biggest challenges of this year,” she said. “I know that being a student is the most important and then playing basketball and being a CA I have to treat as equally as possible.”
Delawder still likes to make time for the important people in her life when she has the chance.
“I love to hang out with my friends and family,” she said. “Also, I have my cosmetology license, so I will cut my family and close friends’ hair.”
And when she’s not doing that, chances are she’s in the gym.
“Chrissy is a very skilled player but also an extremely intelligent basketball player on both ends of the court,” Griffin said. “She is not only well liked by her teammates but also highly respected for the work she does on a daily basis.”
Delawder puts in a lot of work, but she gets a lot from her team and her sport in return.
“I first got into basketball because my grandma Dawn wanted me and my sister to get into a sport,” she said. “I keep coming back to the sport because I love it and I really enjoy the relationships and memories I make with the team.”
Way to go Chrissy!! I hope you have a great season.