Kelly Martin is in the midst of a compelling comeback story. A three-time captain of the Stonehill College basketball team, Martin missed last season with a foot injury. After an extensive rehab process, the Scituate High grad returned for a fifth year of eligibility this season and earned both Northeast 10 and Division 2 Conference Commissioner’s Association East Region Player of the Year honors.
What’s better, Martin and her squad have advanced to the NCAA Division 2 Elite Eight, and will play Indiana University of Pennsylvania in a national quarterfinal in Sioux Falls, S.D., March 19. This is Stonehill’s first trip to the Elite Eight since 1995. At 29-3 and 20-1 in the NE 10, the team earned the trip by clinching the East regional with a 71-61 triumph over third-seeded University of the Sciences. In that game, Martin led Stonehill with 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. The 5-foot-9 point guard has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, including a season-high 29 points in a 73-72 overtime loss to Bentley in the NE-10 championship game.
Martin averages 16.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game. She also averages a team-high 34 minutes playing time per game. She is sixth in career free throws made for Stonehill (383) and second in free throw percentage (83.3). This May, Martin will enroll in the Accelerated Nursing Program at Northeastern University.
Q. What does it mean to earn Northeast 10 Player of the Year honors?
A. I am honored, especially in a competitive league with many talented athletes. I proved to myself, coming off a serious injury, that with hard work and commitment, anything is possible.
Q. When you were injured last year, did you think your career was over?
A. I remember thinking to myself when I was told that the recovery process would be 8-10 months that my basketball career was over. However, with lots of research, we figured out a way that I could stay at Stonehill for a fifth year. It was the best decision I have ever made.
Q. What was the most difficult part of missing a season?
A. It was extremely hard being around basketball every single day last year without being able to play, especially before I made my decision to come back. However, I learned a lot from being sidelined, and it actually made me a better basketball player and a stronger person.
Q. Do you have a most memorable moment from your career at Stonehill?
A. [The win over University of the Sciences] will forever be one of my favorite memories at Stonehill . . . such an incredible atmosphere with an amazing group of coaches and teammates.
Q. How are you scoring most of your points this season?
A. I’ve been scoring in a number of ways, but most of my shots are coming off of good screening action, whether it be a staggered screen or a drop down pass off a high post screen.
Q. What is most important for the team to continue its postseason run?
A. We need to continue to play with confidence and remain poised, with an understanding that basketball is a game of runs. If we continue to defend and all do our jobs, we have a good shot at continuing.
Q. Would you like to stay involved in basketball in some fashion?
A. I definitely see myself coaching at some point and playing for fun whenever I can.
Q. Do you have a role model in life and why?
A. My mom [Linda] is my role model. She is the most selfless, caring, hard-working woman in my life, and to add to that, she was an incredible athlete.
Q. How does it feel to make it to the Elite Eight?
A. It’s such a tremendous accomplishment to make it this far. All of our hard work and dedication is most definitely paying off. We are excited to represent the Northeast in South Dakota.
Q. How special would it be to end your college career by bringing home a national title?
A. It would be a dream come true to win a national championship. We aren’t done yet.
JOHN JOHNSON
John Johnson can be reached at jjohnson49@comcast.net.
