 | | Laura Menty |
Live Chat with Laura Menty, Feb. 3 Siena star forward checks in live with fans. This season Laura has enjoyed a phenomenal start to her Siena career. She has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week three times already this season. Currently she leads the Saints in seven statistical categoris including 12.9 .ppg. Menty has finished 10 contests in double digits and has secured the starting line-up in the last 12 contests battled. The rookie-saint sation, currently leads Siena in FGM with 61. More impressively she has finished with 14 double-digit outings - the most on the Saints roster. A native of Wilbraham, MA, Menty was Named to Street & Smith Honorable Mention, ranked third in the country in AAU (Summer 2003), named Springfield Republican Newspaper Athlete of the Week three times...Western Massachusetts Champions...Fourth player to reach 1,500 points and 1,000+ rebounds ...Named the 22nd player to score 1,500 points or more (1,509 points and 1,023 rebounds - 4 years) in Western Massachusetts history...Garnered Mass. Basketball Coaches Association Western Mass. Player of the Year...Awarded Massachusetts Basketball Coaches State Player of the Year...Named All- League for four years...Named to McDonald's 2004 All-American Girl's H.S. Team...Sports Illustrator All-American Teen Honor Roll...Led the Falcons to State Championship (2003-04)...Winner of the Vi Goodnow Award. This season, she notched her third career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds against Loyola (1/28). While Laura won't be stopping by until Thursday at 7:00 p.m., please feel free to leave a question for her now. We will save all questions until her arrival. |
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| Moderator: Welcome fans to our second chat series with freshman forward Laura Menty. Menty has a enjoyed a sensational start to her Rookie season in the Saints starting line-up. |
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| Larry, Buffalo: Laura, Congratulations on a great freshman year!! What has been the most difficult transition from hs basketball to the college game? Who has been your stiffest competition in the post so far this year in the MAAC? |
 |  | Laura Menty: The most difficult transition was the level of play from h.s. to college. I can't single out one post player in the MAAC, each post player is talented in their own way in this league. |
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| Artie Sparks (Albany): Is it difficult balancing school work with basketball? |
 | | Laura Menty: Yes it is difficult balancing school work with basketball because you are always doing something. You have to be able to time manage everything and make sure you get your work done ahead of time. |
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| Surbs: Why do you wear the headband? |
| | Laura Menty: I started wearing my headband in the 5th grade and just never stopped wearing it. |
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| Kristy (Buffalo, NY): Congratualtions on a great year Laura, I wanted to know how do you balance school and play basketball being away from your family? |
| | Laura Menty: It is always hard but with having study hall and people here to help you it makes it easier. |
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| Mike (Milwaukee): Is there any added pressure being a major contributor as a freshman? And do you think the team will use Rachel Michalek more? She seems to be playing well lately. |
| | Laura Menty: No there isn't any added pressure being a freshman, I just go out there and play, I really don't think much about it. Rachel is playing very well and we need her to keep doing what she is doing. |
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| Jay Gibbons (Baltimore): I hear your nickame is "Mentoid". Where does that come from? |
| | Laura Menty: I have no idea where Surber got that name from but it just sticked. |
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| Chris Richard (Long Island): I heard you chose Siena over other Division I schools like Georgetown. Why did you chose Siena? |
| | Laura Menty: I chose Siena because it was the perfect fit for me. I didn't want to go to a big school or a school far away from home. |
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| Rico Fata (Atlanta): What kind of chance do you give the Saints in the MAAC Tournament? |
| | Laura Menty: My team and I have a good chance of winning the MAAC Tournament as long as we all work hard and play with heart. |
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| Andrew Martin (Albany): Congrats on all the success so far! Before the season started, did you expect to start for the Saints? |
| | Laura Menty: I didn't really think about it, I just wanted to play and work hard. |
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| Dave Fraser (Long Island): Are the Lady Saints feeling any added pressure to win with the disappointing season of the men's team this year? |
| | Laura Menty: No there is no added pressure to win because we wanted that from the beginning and thats what we are working on. We support our men's team in every way and outcome. |
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| Dan Hartford (Boston): In your opinion, what has made Gina Castelli so successful here at Siena over the years? |
| | Laura Menty: What has made Gine so succesful is that she knows her hoops! She also gets everything she can out of her players. |
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| Abby Maguire (Providence): Did you ever appear on the Disney channel show "Totally Hoops?" |
| | Laura Menty: Yes I did. My team was the Conneticut starters and we lost to them by one point to come in third in the nation. For some reason they only showed some clips of our game and us in the opening ceremonies. It was a great exprience though. |
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| Chrissy (St. Paul): Congrats on the great start to your career! Seems like you have a great chance at winning MAAC Rookie o the Year. Do you think about winning awards such as this? |
| | Laura Menty: No I do not think about winning awards like these, I just go out there and play. |
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| Barb ( Mentyville, USA): hi laura, i think you are the greatest!!! you are so cool, i was just wondering if you would like to babysit my daughter and teach her your cool under the basket moves? Can you also teach her how to stand up from indian style like you do? THANKS!!!!!!!!!!! |
| | Laura Menty: No Lex! But thanks for the posting! No I can't teach how to stand up Indian style that comes natural. |
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| Julie(Latham): Hi Laura, You have really impressed me this season. I have always wondered what is the pressure like of being a freshman and being asked to contribute a lot right away? |
| | Laura Menty: There really isn't any difference being a freshman, there still are the same pressures. You just have to go out there and play. |
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| Gerry (South Bend, IN): Who will win the Notre Dame-Pittsburgh football game in September '05? |
| | Laura Menty: Since this is so far away and I only have hoops and school on the mind, I will have to say go Patriots in the Super Bowl. But thanks for taking the time to post a question. |
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| Hampden, MA: Hey Laura, Looks like things are going great. I visit the website at least once a week. We all knew you'd do well. Keep it up. Dr. G. |
| | Laura Menty: Thanks Dr. G!! It's great to hear that home is remembering me. Hope everything is well. |
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| jeremy pringle wallingford: what do you think got you ready to play college basketball |
| | Laura Menty: Well Jeremy what really got me ready was scrimmaging the boys at East Catholic for AAU practice. |
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| Michael D'Amico (Albany): I'm a big fan!!! :-) Of course I'm rooting for you ladies to make the NCAA tournament. If you make the tourney, do you think you have a legitimate chance to win a game or two? |
| | Laura Menty: Hey Michael, thanks for the posting. I trully believe in my team and my coaches - together anything can be accomplished. |
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| Lance Carter (Tampa Bay): Who is your favorite basketball player of all time? |
| | Laura Menty: Lance, I have so many players of all times - too many to pick. But if I had to choose I would say Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain. |
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| Greg (Boston): Before the season started, did you ever believe you had a chance of leading the Saints in scoring? Keep up the good work!!! |
| | Laura Menty: Greg, thanks for the posting. I really did not think about it -I just do what I can to help the team out and play. |
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| Glenn (Smithtown, NY): If you could meet any present day athlete, who would it be? |
| | Laura Menty: If I could meet anyone I would have to say Tom Brady - GO PATS!! Thanks for the posting!!! |
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| Chad Moeller (Milwaukee): Who do you like in the Super Bowl? |
| | Laura Menty: Patiots all the way!! Thanks for the posting Chad. |
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| Norah: East longmeadow: hey laura, this is norah moriarty, i'll be at basketball when you answer this messgae. but i just want to say congratulations, and that we will see you on Saturday. I miss you at the minnechaug games they are doing pretty good by the way. ok, well I have to go, I'll see you saturday :) luv, norah.m |
| | Laura Menty: Thanks Norah! I will be looking forward to seeing you on Saturday! I'm glad to hear that Minnechaug is doing well I hope they keep it up! |
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| J. Pringle (Wallingford, CT): Why do you think you were so well prepared to come in and contribute as a freshman? What did you do as far as working out last summer? |
| | Laura Menty: Well Pringle last summer I did a lot of running and shooting to get me ready. I also got to do some relaxing and hanging out at a lake, even though I got hurt by someone there! But I wont mention any names! |
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| Jennifer (Chicago, IL): I'm a young basketball player and would like to know what some of your coaches taught you about the game while growing up? Did you play AAU basketball and go to camps? |
| | Laura Menty: A lot of my coaches just taught me the basic fundamentals which are important in the game. Yes I played AAU and I went to camps and those really helped me to improve my game a lot. |
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| Lauren: what was your most embarrassing moment on the bball court? |
| | Laura Menty: I probably had so many embarrassing moments on the bball court that I couldn't just point out one. A lot of them though would have to do with me falling. |
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| Terri (Watervliet): When do you think you'll be taking shots from the high post? |
| | Laura Menty: That is something that I need to start using in my game and hopefully I will start to take them in the next game. |
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| | Laura Menty: Thanks everyone for taking the time to ask me questions, I appreciate your support and commitment towards our team. We hope to see you at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo. Go Saints!!!! |
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| Moderator: Thanks for joining Lauren in a live chat. |
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