Christmas came early for Tory Verdi and the UMass women’s basketball team.
The Minutewomen added a versatile wing when Danielle Sanderlin was deemed eligible by the NCAA.
“It allows us a little more depth, especially with our guards,” Verdi said. “She’s competitive and a scorer by nature. I think that having another weapon allows us to do some different things, especially getting downhill and attacking the basket.”
Sanderlin is a 6-foot small forward who transferred from Canisius in April. While she could practice with UMass and sit on the bench during home games only, she was sitting out the year due to transfer rules.
But on Wednesday the NCAA’s Division I Council granted blanket waivers for all Division I athletes to play immediately. The decision is based on the effect the pandemic has had on rosters.
“The Council continued its trend of voting in favor of maximum flexibility for student-athletes during the pandemic,” said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletic director at Pennsylvania. “Allowing transfer student-athletes to compete immediately will provide additional opportunities to student-athletes during this continued difficult time, and perhaps allow games to be played that otherwise might not have been.”
The ruling has some contingencies. The waiver only applies to transfers from other Division I programs and players must have already been enrolled full time at their current school. It applies to first-time transfers from four-year schools, and players much have been in good standing academically and not facing disciplinary suspension at their former institution.
Sanderlin averaged 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds during her junior year at Canisius. She started 29 of 30 games, including all 20 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. She had six double-doubles and was named third-team All-MAAC.
“She can post up, that’s something she has done her whole life,” Verdi said. “If there is a smaller guard on her we will definitely utilize that. There’s a ton of versatility there, catching the ball on the wing, ripping and driving and getting to the rim. We’ve been developing her guard skills since the summer when she got here and we prepped her for this day.”
UMass is off to a 5-1 start but has done so with the starting five averaging over 27 minutes a game. Forward Sam Breen leads the group with 35.5 minutes per game. Guards Sydney Taylor (34.5) and Destiney Philoxy (33.5) are the only other players over 30.
Guard Ber’Nyah Mayo (28.5) and forward Maddie Sims (27.3) round out the starters.
Veri has used forward Makennah White (16.0 mpg) off the bench in all six games. guard Madison Lowrey (16.8), guard Desiree Oliver (21.5) and forward Angelique Ngalakulondi (5.0) have appeared in four each.
“After the holidays we’re are going to feel pretty good about where our depth is,” Verdi said. “Maeve Donnelly will be back, adding Danielle. We’ll have plenty of depth. Now the question is I’m not sure we’ll have enough minutes for our players.”
The Minutewomen have been without Donnelly this season. The sophomore center has been in concussion protocol, but Verdi expects his team to be at full strength when the season resumes on New Year’s Day at Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia.
“She’s working hard each and every day getting herself ready,” Verdi said of Donnelly. “Getting her back in the flow of things will take some time, but once she gets acclimated and ready to go we expect Maeve to continue to do the things that she did for us last year.”
IN THE PAST — Sanderlin went head to head against Sims in the MAAC. Sims and Siena won their only matchup during the 2018-2019 season, 78-66. Sims had nine points and nine rebounds. Sanderlin had 13 points and nine boards.
Sanderlin and Sims split during the 2017-18 season. The then-freshman Sanderlin had 17 and nine in a 65-57 win. Sims had six and seven. Sims had 15 and six in her 68-59 victory. Sanderlin went for 16 and eight in defeat.
PLAYERS RETURN — Verdi gave his players the week off following their win over St. John’s on Sunday. The players returned to campus on Friday and entered quarantine. They will return to practice on Christmas Eve.
Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com. Follow on Twitter @mikemoranDHG.