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Women's Basketball Receives Three More Commitments
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Queens College head women's basketball coach, Bet Naumovski has announced that three more student-athletes have committed to play for the Knights in the 2012-13 campaign.
Guard, Joya McFarland (Bronx, N.Y.) and forward, MacKenzie Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y.) are incoming freshmen, and recently signed National Letters of Intent to play at QC. Meanwhile, rising sophomore guard/forward Marie Byrnes (Brooklyn, N.Y.), a transfer from the University of Rhode Island, has also committed to play for the Knights.
McFarland played two years of varsity basketball (and four overall) for John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx. She was a First-Team All-Borough selection in each of the last two seasons, and averaged double digits in scoring for head coach O'Neil Glenn's Knights. McFarland is the daughter of of Leverne McFarland and Lilliette Harris, and has six siblings.
"The point guard position is one in which I have high standards and expectations," said Naumovski. "They are vital to the team's success. Joya is a very special person who I have full confidence can excel in this role and meet my expectations both on and off the court. She is an academically gifted student with strong leadership potential. On the court she plays an up-tempo game while demonstrating a high basketball IQ, strong ability to pass, penetrate and shoot from behind the arc. She has a tremendous opportunity to learn from our senior point guard, Bria Jackson, and I look forward to watching them go head-to-head in practice!"
Rowland played three years of varsity basketball for head coach Emily Caschera's Shaker High School squad. She helped the Bison to a Section 2 championship in 2011, and a Suburban Council title in her senior campaign. Rowland averaged 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks per contest in her final scholastic stanza, and played AAU basketball for the Saratoga Sparks and City Rocks. One of Stacey and Derrick Rowland's five children, the latter spent two games with the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA after a successful collegiate career at SUNY Potsdam.
"I am excited to add MacKenzie Rowland to our Knight family," commented Naumovski. "MacKenzie has the potential to be one of the best post players to ever put on a Queens College jersey. I have very high expectations for her and I am confident she will deliver. Mack is a physically gifted and versatile 6-foot-2 post. She has the ability to rebound, block shots and defend both on the block and perimeter. Offensively, she can shoot the mid-range jumper, attack off the dribble and finish with either hand around the basket. Off the court, she is another strong student who is well-grounded and extremely humble. I absolutely look forward to watching her growth at QC."
Byrnes spent the 2011-12 season at the University of Rhode Island, where she played in 12 games for the Rams. She played a season-high 19 minutes at Dayton (Jan. 7), where she registered three points. As a scholastic player at Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.), Byrnes played four seasons of varsity basketball for head coach Mary Coyle Klinger's Argonauts. An All-Area and Prep All-State selection in 2010-11, she helped lead Rutgers Prep to Prep B State Championships in 2009 and 2011.
"Marie Byrnes is the type of player every coach wants on their team," stated Naumovski. "She is a gym rat. Marie is constantly working to improve and as a result has a very well-rounded game. She has a high basketball IQ and shoots the ball well both behind the arc and off the dribble. Physically, there are not many players who are stronger. Off the court, she is a strong student, extremely witty and I'm sure will provide the team with timely comic relief. Marie demonstrates a maturity beyond her years and genuinely enjoys a love for life. I look forward to working with her over the coming years."
