Seton-La Salle graduate DelGreco plays key role in W&J's successful season

Alexa DelGreco described the 2013-14 basketball season as “awesome.” She hopes next season is even better.

DelGreco — a Baldwin native and Seton-La Salle graduate — is a member of the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team, which went 21-9, advanced to the NCAA Division III Presidents' Athletic Conference championship game and qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament.

The local product, a 5-foot-3 junior guard, was a big part of that success.

DelGreco started 28 of the team's 30 games, averaged 24.6 minutes and 7.2 points, and led the team with 42 3-pointers.

“Alexa's been a really strong player since she got here as a freshman. She had an immediate impact,” said Jina DeRubbo, W&J's head coach. “She shoots the ball, and she's versatile. We play her at the one- and two-guard positions.”

In addition to her on-court skills, DelGreco brings an intangible to the team.

“She's very smart. Coming from a good high school program, she has a lot of knowledge of the game,” DeRubbo said.

“Her strength is her ability to see the floor. Her best times are when she's bringing the ball down in transition on a fast break. She sees things before they happen and almost always makes the right pass. She's a coach on the floor out there.”

DelGreco said the team's chemistry was a big factor in its success.

“Everyone was together. There wasn't any ‘me, me, me,'” she said. “Everyone got along, and I think that's why we succeeded and did so well. We were all in it together.”

W&J rattled off an 18-6 record, then cruised through the PAC tournament until it hit powerhouse Thomas Moore in the final, falling 80-58.

“It was definitely tough,” DelGreco said. “We were especially excited to win the PAC, but Thomas Moore is just a great team. We all did our best in that game.”

The Lady Presidents were selected to play in the ECAC tournament, where they defeated Marymount, 79-72, before falling to Catholic, 90-71, in the second round.

Those around the program are focused on next year being even more successful.

“We graduate three kids who played important roles for us, so we will definitely have holes to fill,” DeRubbo said.

She explained that DelGreco, while a regular contributor this season, is expected to take on an even larger role next season, perhaps as the full-time point guard, rather than splitting time between two positions.

“We will expect Alexa to take on more of a leadership role next year,” DeRubbo said. “We need a good senior year from her. We expect a big freshman class, and we want these youngsters to be able to look up to the seniors. Alexa will be a big part of that.”

Brian Knavish is a freelance writer.