By GARY HAWKINS

Staff Writer

Toby Martin was determined to earn a starting job after coming off the bench for the basketball team last season at Franklin Pierce University.

She did, although there were more candidates for the point guard position than she anticipated.

"I knew that was going to be the spot I was competing for," said Martin, who transferred from Thomas College after her freshman year. "I worked my butt off."

Martin attended point guard camp in Indiana, lifted three times a week and played basketball every day during the summer. She won the starting spot over three other candidates, but said she's still competing for it every day in practice.

"That attitude is one of the reasons she's our starting point guard," Franklin Pierce coach Mark Swasey said. "She's earned it."

The Ravens, currently 9-1, compete in the tough Northeast-10 Conference and this week were ranked among the top 25 Division II teams in the country for the first time in the school's history.

"The league's as tough as its ever been," said Swasey, whose team came in at No. 25. "There are five teams in the top 25 or who have received votes."

Martin, who is on full scholarship, transferred from Div. III Thomas to Franklin Pierce because she thought she could play at a higher level. She played sparingly last season, though, averaging just under 13 minutes and 3.7 points a game.

"There were times I was definitely frustrated, upset, the whole nine yards," Martin said.

Point Guard College, run by former University of Virginia star Dena Evans, helped.

"The biggest thing I got out of it was having confidence in yourself," Martin said.

Martin also picked up some little things, like looking at the rim when she got possession of the ball.

"It helps you see the whole floor," she said.

Swasey said reading the whole floor has been the biggest adjustment for Martin, who played point guard in high school at Maranacook, but was more a scorer than a passer.

This season, she's surrounded by capable scorers, led by all-American Johannah Leedham, who averages 22.9 points a game.

"I've never seen a player like that," Martin said.

Martin's numbers are solid. She's third on the team in minutes per game (21.6), assists (23) and fourth in scoring (7.1). Martin is also among the conference leaders in 3-point shooting at 50 percent.

Although Swasey would like to see her assists per game increase, he's pleased with Martin's rebounding. At 5-foot-3, she averages 2.2 boards a game.

"It's pretty impressive for her build," Swasey said. "She just sticks her nose in there."

With increased confidence, Martin has become more vocal on the court, but her coach wants her to talk it up even more.

"She's too quiet," he said. "I was making her run in the preseason when she wouldn't open her mouth."

The Ravens play in the Pace University Holiday Classic next weekend and resume their conference schedule against Southern Connecticut on Jan. 5.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com