By Steve MullinsAssistant Sports Editor
Nicolette McCartny is not like most freshmen athletes. She has arole, yet it has nothing to do with carrying bags or sleeping oncots.
“My teammates made me carry their bags once, but that was it,”McCartny said. “They don’t think of me as a freshman.”
As a backup center for the San Diego State women’s basketballteam, McCartny is helping fill the void that came with the graduationof Mary Apiafi, last season’s second-team all-Mountain WestConference selection.
So far, she’s filled in admirably.
Through four games, the 6-foot-2 McCartny is SDSU’s third-leadingscorer, averaging nine points per contest. She scored in doublefigures in each of her first three games and is tied for theteam-lead in rebounds. She’s also shot better than 72 percent fromthe field.
“She’s adapted so easily,” said Aztecs head coach Barb Smith. “Youtell her once and then she goes and does it the right way. She picksthings up really fast.”
Fellow center Atim Otii agrees.
“Her openness to learning what it’s like at this level hasattributed to her success so far,” Otii said. “She’s eager to learnand she does everything that we tell her.”
A fast learning curve is something that’s always been evident withMcCartny. Though she didn’t take up basketball until the eighthgrade, it didn’t her take long to master the game.
As a freshman, she made the varsity team at her Chicago highschool. As a sophomore, she made the all-conference team.
As a junior, McCartny was named conference Player of the Yearwhile averaging 15.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 6.0 blocks. As asenior, she was all-state, averaging 17.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and6.0 blocks. “She’s going to be a great player,” Smith said. “I’mexcited about Nick’s future. I think she’ll be all-conference onceshe’s a senior.”
And what does McCartny think?
“One day, it will all click,” she said. “So far, I’m notcompletely satisfied with how I’ve played. Defense is a big part ofthe game and I’m still struggling with that.
“It’s a big transition from high school to college play. It’s alot quicker and there’s more talent to compete with. It’s somethingyou have to get through.
“The coaches are being patient in working with me. I know there’sa lot of stuff I have to learn. I don’t expect to be an all-star onthis team. I just want to win.”
McCartny said her transition from the prep to the college rankshas been easier than most because she’s accepted not being her team’sNo. 1 option.
“I realize that I have a different role here,” McCartny said. “Weall have to work as a team. I think I’ve handled the transitionpretty well.”
As does Smith.
“She’s been a great surprise,” Smith said. “Nick has a great workethic. She may not know everything yet, but she’s going to go hard.She still needs to work on agility, conditioning and mobility, butshe’s a fighter. She’s not afraid of anything or anybody.”
Though she came in with a never-say-die attitude, McCartny saidOtii has helped mold her style of play.
“I look up to Atim,” McCartny said. “She helps me in practice andalways keeps me going.”
Said Otii: “Nicolette’s a hard worker and she has a positiveattitude. I see her becoming a lot better in years to come. This isjust the beginning for her.”
