HOMICH RETURNS FOR FIFTH YEAR TO LEAD LADY BEARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Senior guard Elisha Homich has seen it all as a member of the Bridgewater State University women’s basketball team.
The fifth-year senior has been through winning the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship the past three years and the NCAA Tournament losses that have followed.
Homich even had to sit out her junior year due to a blood clot in her right arm.
She returned to the court last year and had a strong season, as she averaged 13 points per game and 5.1 assists per game.
Through it all, Homich’s passion to play has never wavered, which separates her from her opponents.
“My favorite quality about her is that she’s passionate about the game,” said Bridgewater State head coach Bridgett Casey. “Her dedication and commitment not only to the sport of basketball but to Bridgewater in general is definitely a strong point that not all athletes have.”
When Homich was a freshman, she proved to have the potential of being a star player. .
“We thought she was very tenacious, especially on defense,” Casey said. “She could shoot lights out. At first we saw her, it was just ‘wow’ on the court.”
Homich has found the right fit and has flourished at Bridgewater State.
“My favorite thing about playing at Bridgewater is that I love the girls,” said Homich. “I love the coaching staff. It’s like a home away from home.”
Homich, now in her second year as captain, has an impact on the team through her leadership on and off the court.
“She’s someone that someone can look up to,” Casey said. “She’s just a great person. She has a good head on her shoulders.”
Senior guard Jenna Williamson has followed in Homich’s footsteps, as both are from Ludlow, Massachusetts, and have been playing with one another since second grade.
“We know where each other is going to go since we’ve been playing with each other for so long,” WilIiamson said. “I love playing with Elisha. I’d much rather play with her than against her.”
Homich and Williamson have developed a bond which stays with them not just on the court, but through their everyday lives.
“Off the court, she’s one of my close friends,” said Williamson. “We can depend on each other on and off the court. I know we’ll still be close friends when we graduate but I’ll miss playing basketball with her.”
With one season left in her career, Homich is looking to work on one final goal before she graduates.
“We’ve won the MASCAC championship the last three years and I want to continue to do that,” said Homich. “But we’ve entered the NCAA Tournament three years in a row and we haven’t won a game in the tournament yet, so, that’s definitely a goal for me.”
Homich and the rest of the Lady Bears will play Johnson State on Friday, November 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Emily Hayes is a Comment sports writer. Email her at e4hayes@student.bridgew.edu.
