WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Back at home, Kanalley thriving

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January 7, 2009

By Jay Skurski<br><a href="mailto:skurskij@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Jay</a> The Tonawanda News Wed Jan 07, 2009, 11:20 PM EST

Melissa Kanalley’s happy to be back home. Likewise, the D’Youville College women’s basketball team is happy to have her.

After beginning her collegiate career down the I-90 at St. John Fisher College, Kanalley — the all-time leading scorer in Cardinal O’Hara history — transferred to D’Youville midway through last season. She found immediate team success, coming off the bench and helping the Spartans to a 22-6 record, the North Eastern Athletic Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

“I wasn’t happy there (at St. John Fisher). I knew I needed a change,” Kanalley said. “I figured I would come home and it would be a better fit.”

While she was worried about a new team accepting her midway through the season, those concerns were quickly erased.

“They were wonderful,” Kanalley said. “I felt like I fit right in.”

That’s proven to be the case, as Kanalley has quickly become a player coach Mark Herr relies on.

“We’re asking a lot out of her,” Herr said. “She can play three positions for us, so she’s got to play a lot.”

Heading into Wednesday night’s game against SUNY Institute of Technology, Kanalley was second on the Spartans in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game. She’s also seen time at point guard, even though she’s more of a natural shooting guard, when the team needed it.

“She’s done everything we’ve ever asked of her, and she’s volunteered to do other things,” Herr said.

That’s even extended to situations off the court. Herr said earlier this summer that his 12-year-old son Matthew was getting ready for the Gus Macker Tournament and Kanalley offered to show him some pointers.

“She’s just a really great kid,” Herr said of Kanalley.

Her 1,355 career points rank first in O’Hara history, and at the time of her graduation was fourth all-time in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association. She also hit 160 3-pointers in her illustrious Hawks career.

Kanalley, a math major, carries a 3.8 grade-point average.

Tuesday night against SUNYIT, Kanalley had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds as the Spartans scored a 69-50 win. Also for D’Youville (3-7), Christine Halter had 23 points and 16 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive end, and Holly Beats finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Tamara Williams led SUNYIT (7-5) with 19 points and nine rebounds.

Contact editor Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.

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