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Holloway Making Her Mark On Lions

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By BART O'CONNELL Tribune correspondent

Published: January 19, 2008

ST. LEO - When describing how tumultuous Amanda Holloway's four years at Saint Leo have been, Coach Chanita Olds looks back to the senior's days at Palm Beach Lake High.

Holloway's team did not advance to the playoffs out of district play, a crushing blow after it had advanced the previous year. Holloway got emotional, but she knew she would continue playing in college with the Lions.

Now, four years later, Holloway has taken advantage of her opportunity and become one of the greatest players in school history. She needs 10 more points to reach 1,000 for her career, and she could do it this afternoon against Nova Southeastern at the Bowman Center.

"It's just something unbelievable," Olds said. "We talk so much about leaving her mark here at Saint Leo. I keep telling her you want to come back in five, 10 years, and say in the trophy case, 'I did that. I led my team here.' So I keep preaching to her about leaving her mark, not just going through the motions - doing it with a purpose."
Holloway has kept that purpose through some tough seasons with the Lions. During her freshman year (2004-05), Saint Leo was 1-26. That was followed by a 9-18 mark her sophomore season and 6-22 when she was a junior.

But the Lions are 8-7 entering today's game, and appear to be closer to starting a winning tradition. Holloway is one of the few who can appreciate that turnaround.

"When I first got here, oh gosh, that was something far away," Holloway said of the milestone. "But as I got closer to it, I started to realize I could reach 1,000."

Though she is hesitant about putting the accomplishment into perspective, Olds believes it is more significant because of what she has been through.

"Amanda came here when the program was struggling. Everybody was just beating up on Saint Leo - as the other coaches in our conference described, 'The doormat of the SSC.' She was here," Olds said. "And the fact that you started here, and you see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's a wonderful feeling to know you're a part of the foundation of success this program is pushing towards."
Holloway has been tracking her points this season, and she made it a goal to reach the mark. She would become the eighth player in school history to score 1,000 - the first since September Harrison (1,252) in 2003-04.

With at least 14 games remaining this season, Holloway might threaten Telicia Philip, who is sixth all-time with 1,151 career points. But to get in the top five she will have to catch Harrison. Averaging 19 points per game the rest of the way would be enough.

The all-time scoring record is held by Tonya Dix, who had 1,550 points from 1986 through 1990.
Holloway hasn't decided what she'll do when she scores the milestone basket, but she has a few ideas.

"I'll probably do a back flip - no, I can't do that. I don't know, whatever happens in that moment," she said. "I'll smile, I'll do that."

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at

SLU WOMEN'S 1,000-POINT CLUB

Rank Name (Years)

Points

1. Tonya Dix (1986-90)

1,550

2. Daphne Washington (1989-93)

1,495

3. Denise Brooks (1983-87)

1,355

4. Marnie Wiegman (1989-93)

1,350

5. September Harrison (2001-04)

1,252

6. Telica Philip (1996-99)

1,151

7. Ursula Kirnes (1983-86)

1,015

boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

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