Despite only being in her junior year, Liz Wade has left her mark on the Saint Mary's program both on and off the court.
Throughout this season, Wade has been a terrific team leader for the Belles, playing tough on offense and defense every game.
"She sees the game very well at both ends of the court," Belles coach Jennifer Henley said.
One of Wade's specialties is turning defense into points. She enters Thursday night's game third on the Belles' all-time steals list with 214 in her career. She needs 60 more to tie the record and for her, that may not be too much trouble.
Wade ended last season with 86 steals, quite a feat for the sophomore player. Not only does the ability to create turnovers pose a defensive threat, but the Belles' offense then has many more opportunities to score.
Wade not only gives the Belles more opportunities on offense with her steals, she also sets up her teammates to score. Wade has recorded 82 assists on the year.
Wade does not put forth all of her efforts on the defensive end alone. She also provides leadership on offense by setting up the offense as the team's general on the floor.
"Liz Wade is a very talented point guard," Henley said.
Not only are her skills on the court noticed by her teammates, her leadership ability has been noted as well. Wade leads by example on the court and through this she allows other players to mimic her tough playing style.
"She was voted as one of the captains this season as a junior which speaks volumes as to how her teammates respect her," Henley said.
The impact that Wade left on the team from last season resonated into this season as her teammates selected her as a captain. Last season was a remarkable one for Wade, as she became the youngest player to earn the Defensive Player of the Year award in the MIAA conference.
Even through this season Wade has not let up the intensity that she played with last season. She continues to lead the Belles and contributes greatly to the team's success.
