By Andrew Hartley(@andrewhart1ey) – Spear Reporter
Sofia Kelemeni awaiting in inbound pass facing pressure against Air Force on Feb. 3, 2024 at the Event Center. I Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
Coming into the 2023-24 season, San Jose State women’s basketball head coach April Phillips appeared to have three solid point guards. Experienced senior Jasmine Singleton with a year under the Phillips system a pair of exciting freshman guards in Jyah LoVett and Sydni Summers.
Singleton has been out with a boot on her foot since December. Ouch but manageable.
LoVett found herself in a boot after a January matchup against San Diego State. Okay that hurts but at least there’s still one playmaker.
Summers played all but one game going into Saturday’s matchup against Fresno State. Coming back in the third quarter, Summers attempted a step-back crossover on the left side of the court and rolled her ankle. After being helped off the court, Summers was seen on the bench with, of course, a boot. And now a point guard room that went from three bodies may be at zero.
“It’s tough, you look down our bench and there’s more people in sweats than are suited up,” Phillips said after SJSU’s loss to Air Force.
So if Summers is to miss any time, who can take over the playmaking responsibilities? A player who went from starting no games a season ago to playing all 40 minutes Saturday.
Sofia Kelemeni, who naturally plays as an off the ball guard, has slowly been incorporated as a playmaker since SJSU’s home match against New Mexico.
“It’s definitely a new thing that’s happening,” sophomore Sabrina Ma said of Kelemeni’s playmaking responsibilities. After LoVett sustained her injury, coach Phillips needed another playmaker to help share the duties with Summers. Showing potential regularly in this role in practice, the team decided to incorporate the move in-game.
Of course there are growing pains like the struggles shown against Air Force beating a full court press. There’s other examples like beating a front defensive look against San Diego State.
“Baptism by fire,” Phillips said.
Yet Kelemeni continues to rise to the challenge despite the surrounding circumstances. That same game against SDSU, Kelemeni achieved multiple career-highs totaling 12 points and five assists. This included a clutch 3-pointer with the shot clock at two seconds to bring the game within a point with under a minute to play.
In 30 minutes a game, Kelemeni is averaging 7.14 points, 3.28 assists and 5.71 rebounds in the seven games since LoVett’s injury. The 43% from 3-point range is a bonus but lowering the 3.42 turnovers a game will be important.
“It’s mostly about executing,” Kelemeni said. “We need to be locked in until the end (of games).”
Aside from Kelemeni, Ma appears to be the only other healthy guard for the Spartans. Ma has been reinserted in the starting lineup averaging 12.6 points her last three games after recently being used as a sixth man.
Freshman Maya Anderson, who played 38-plus minutes Saturday, has the ability to playmake. Outside of Singleton and LoVett, Anderson leads the team in assists per game (2.2). Anderson has been struggling shooting from the field recently so a playmaking role could benefit the team.
A Mia Grizelj–Semaj Smith lineup was experimented Saturday and while it may not have been the most successful, the Spartans may not have many other options.
“The hardest thing with young kids is the inconsistencies that come with them so we just have to keep working at it,” Phillips said.
San Jose State’s next matchup is scheduled to take place against Utah State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at home. The only team its beat in conference play.
Amhyia Moreland and Marisa Davis-Jones were already out for Saturday’s game against Fresno State. If Summers is out against the Aggies, rotations can get that much more difficult for the Spartans.