Morning Sentinel
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS: Martin continues to prove herself
BY GARY HAWKINS
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/21/2008

BY GARY HAWKINS

Staff Writer

Diminutive Toby Martin has always had to prove herself on the basketball court.

Generously listed at 5-foot-5 in the Franklin Pierce University press guide, Martin is usually giving away inches to opposing guards in the tough Northeast 10 Conference, one of the nation's best in Division II.

Now a senior, Martin has nothing to prove to Franklin Pierce coach Mark Swasey, however.

"She can really take a beating," Swasey said. "She's a very tough kid. We throw a lot at her and she's up for it. You know what you're getting from Toby every day in practice."

Martin transferred from Thomas College after her freshman year, and by her junior year she had earned a scholarship and starting job at Franklin Pierce. Despite returning 10 players from a team that went a school record 27-6 last season and reached the Elite Eight in the national tournament, the Ravens have struggled so far.

They are 4-3 and 3-3 in the conference. To compound matters, the school went without power for a week due to an ice storm that ravaged New Hampshire and to cancel two games and a number of practices.

"We're just really struggling to find an identity," Swasey said.

Martin is averaging 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a game but said she's been inconsistent.

"I haven't really had a bad game, but I haven't been consistent," she said.

Martin came off the bench the first couple of games to give the Ravens a sixth-person spark but has since moved into the starting lineup at the shooting guard. Swasey would like to see her take at least 10 shots a game.

"Her 3-point shooting is down," the coach said. "We're taking 3s outside the men's line. I think it's really affected Toby."

The men's 3-point line was moved back nine inches in college this season, leaving players to contend with two arcs on the court instead of one.

Even when she's not shooting well, Martin makes an impact, though. She often guards the other team's point guard and does a good job of keeping players in front of her, Swasey said.

"She gives us a lot of energy on the court," Swasey said. "She's a huge spark plug."

There are games when Martin sits, though, as she did against Stonehill in the regional final last season. Martin came back to play the entire game in the opening round of the Elite Eight and scored a season-high 15 the following game when the Ravens were eliminated from the tournament.

"It didn't surprise me at all," Swasey said. "That's just classic Toby Martin. With Toby it's all about matchups."

Martin thinks the team will eventually mesh this season, but realizes every game in the conference is a tough one.

"Every team is gunning for us," she said. "You have to play your 'A' game. I love that about this conference."

Martin would like to increase her scoring this season to take some pressure off teammate Jo Leedham, the Division II Player of the Year last season. Leedham is currently out wit an ankle injury, placing even more pressure on the rest of the team.

"We eventually could be tough and I think we will be," she said. "We have other players who can step up and knock down the shots."

A mass communication major, Martin has written a number of sports stories for the school newspaper and said she has considered that as a profession after she graduates.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

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