 | | Sarah Craft hosted a live internet chat on Thursday, February 20th. |
Sarah Craft Hosted a Live Chat on Thursday, February 20th Welcome to the Siena College athletics chat room! We hope you will enjoy this exciting new interactive feature as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. Every other Thursday, you will have the chance to log in and see your questions answered by a special Siena athletics representative. This Thursday, February 20, we chatted with Sarah Craft of the women's basketball team. Craft is one of four seniors on this year's team. Last year, she made an immediate impact in her first season with the Saints after transferring from Mitchell Community College in Connecticut where she was twice named a Kodak All-American and a Junior College All-American. Craft has appeared in 23 games for the Green and Gold this season and has received the starting nod numerous times. A capable outside shooter and tenacious defender, she is one of eight Saints who have reached double figures in scoring and has often earned the assignment of marking the opposition's top offensive threat. A local product from South Glen Falls, N.Y., Craft has a twin sister, Megan, who plays softball at the University at Albany. |
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 |  | Sarah: Hello everyone. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I will now be happy to answer any questions you have. |
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| Jim from Guilderland: Do you think the team is playing up to their ability now? Will the season be looked at as a big disappointment if you don't win the MAAC tournamnet? |
| | Sarah: Thanks for the question Jim. We are starting to get to our ability. It will definately be a big dissapointment if we don't win the MAAC tournament. |
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| Julie(Latham): I have been very proud to watch you over the past almost 2 full years. What is it like playing with such a wonderful basketball team, and was their an adjustment period when you arrived? |
| | Sarah: It has been great playing with such a wonderful team, especially with the leadership we have. The adjustment was tough, but I got used to it. |
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| Celeste Bennington Vermont: Hey, your team did great this year and I was wondering if you guys do make it to the NCAA how far do you think you will make it and what is it like to go to Siena? |
| | Sarah: We are looking to win the MAAC tournament and going to the NCAA's. When we get there we hope to play our best and see what round that takes us to. Siena has been a great experience. The people are supportive and it has been great to be close to home. |
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| Steve (Glens Falls): What do you think about women's sports using sex appeal to attract its fan base? |
| | Sarah: Tough question. I'm a bit torn on the subject. I haven't seen many examples of this, but I know that women try hard to attract the same fan base as the men do and they have been forced to try several different tactics because of the road blocks that stand in their way. |
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| Erin (Queens, NY): Congratulations on your success this season! How important do you think winning the regular-season championship will be in terms of the MAAC Championships given the new Tournament format? |
| | Sarah: Yes, the MAAC Tournament should be interesting this year with the new format. I think it is extremely important to win the MAAC regular season championship. It puts the team in a great position for the MAAC Championship having to only play two games for the title. And winning the MAAC Championship is very important to us because it assures us of a NCAA berth. |
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| Billy (Albany): How do you balance academics with your busy school schedule? |
| | Sarah: Good question. It is very hard to stay focused on both basketball and academics, especially during tournament time. I try to seek out extra help with tutors and make the best of the free time that I have on the road. Being organized is a must. |
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| Peter (Pittsfield): How far do you think the Saints will go in the NCAA's |
| | Sarah: Well, our first goal is to win the MAAC Championship. Then we will focus on the NCAA's, but when there we hope to play our best and the rest will take care of itself. |
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| James (Albany): Knowing you only have a couple weeks left in your career does that make game preparation any different? |
| | Sarah: Good question. I haven't thought about that...Knowing I only have a couple of weeks left here playing Siena basketball, I want to help my team however I can so I have been preparing myself every game as if it was my last. |
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| Tina (Clifton Park): Who are your favorite women's basketball players and teams? |
| | Sarah: Sheryl Swoopes is one of my favorites-- Oh, and Tisha Pinchero. Of course my favorite team in Siena, but UConn isn't far behind. |
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| Steve in Los Angeles: Who's the toughest player you've ever played against? |
| | Sarah: I would have to say Rosalee Mason from Manhattan College. She is an all-around player who is very strong and athletic. |
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| Barbara - Troy: I read where your twin sister is a softball player at SUNY-Albany. Does she ever come to any of your games? |
| | Sarah: She is my biggest fan! She comes to all of my games, along with the rest of my family. |
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| Kyle: Is Siena a good place to go to college? |
| | Sarah: Yes, of course. The size fits me well and I like the captial region. |
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| Kathy: Sarah you've been shuffled in and out of the starting lineup all season, which do you prefer starting or coming off the bench. Best of luck the rest of the year |
| | Sarah: Good question. Unfortunately I have no control over whether or not I start. But, I don't mind coming off the bench because I can get a good understanding of how the game is being played before I go in. |
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| Brad (Encinitas, Ca): With both Liene Jansone and Gunta Basko from Latvia ... is there any talk about a team trip over there to play competitivly? |
| | Sarah: Not a bad idea Brad, but there hasn't been any talk of a trip to Latvia yet. Maybe I should bring it up. |
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| Brad (Encinitas, Ca): Who's the biggest trash talker on the team come game time? Who's the team's "class clown"? |
| | Sarah: Jolene Johnston would qualify for both of those categories. She can be both serious and silly. |
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| Tony (Madison, WI): Sarah--Congrats on agreat career. What made you transfer to Siena? Did you always follow the program? |
| | Sarah: I have been asked that question alot, Tony. I choose Siena because it was close to home and I liked the way Coach Castelli kept in contact with me while I was away at Junior College. Being from the area, Siena has always been an interest of mine. |
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| Becky (Guilderland): Why did you choose #12? What are you going to do if you don't make the WNBA? |
| | Sarah: I choose #12 because it was a number of a best friend of mine that passed away. The WNBA isn't something I'm completely focused on, but I wouldn't turn down the opportunity if I was offered it. |
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| Bridget (Austin, TX): Where would you most like to go if you make the NCAA's? What team will give you the biggest challenge in the MAAC Tournament? |
| | Sarah: It's hard to tell without the seedings, but I would love to visit California or Hawaii. I think Manhattan or Saint Peter's will most likely give us the biggest challenge in the MAAC Tournament. They both have played us hard, but we are ready for anyone or any team that stands in our way of our goal. |
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| Mateo (Seattle, WA): What is it like having a twin sister? Do you guys get along--were you always competitive in sports? |
| | Sarah: Great question Mateo. I love having a twin sister because it is someone I can connect with on a different level. We were very competitive in every sport growing up and that would cause some problems, but now we get along well. |
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| Dan (Watervliet): You've had a long road to get to where you are today, looking back, has your career turned out like you hoped it would? |
| | Sarah: Yes, I would say my career has turned out the way I had hoped it would, but there will always be some things I will look back on and think I could have done better. |
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| George Kleemann (New London, CT): Sarah, What goals did you set for yourself this season? Good luck in the MAAC Tournament! |
| | Sarah: Good question George. I always want to help the team out in any way I can. That was my main goal coming into the season. |
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| Gury Millow, Oldeburg cheese: So what are your roommates like and your manager and your trainers??? |
| | Sarah: Well, considering I live with two basketball players, we get along great. Our managers are very helpful and our trainers put a lot of time and effort into keeping us healthy. |
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| | Sarah: I want to thank everyone for taking the time to ask me questions. I hope you follow us on the road to winning the MAAC Championship and earning an NCAA bid! Thanks and have a great night. |
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