Reflections Magazine Issue #80 - Spring 2014 | Page 14

Athletics Feature

Grace Under Pressure

G

All-Time Assist Leader Howrigon Leads Saints to New Heights

race Howrigon almost didn’t stay. She’s sure glad
she did.
The senior point guard had a rough start to her Siena
Heights women’s basketball career. However, she knew it
could get better. And it did.
During her final three years, the
Saints recorded consecutive 20-win
seasons and back-to-back NAIA tournament berths. This year, Siena Heights
finished 26-9 and won its first national
postseason game to establish the best
stretch in the program’s history.
Howrigon, who finished her career
as the program’s all-time assist leader,
was a primary reason for that success.
“We’ve had the most success with her,” said head coach Sue
Syljebeck, who called Howrigon ones of the best players in the
program’s history. “Grace was a key piece for us.”
Howrigon, who led the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in assists (6.0 per game) and averaged 12.4 points
per game to earn all-conference honors, stepped up her game
this season.
“Last year, I wasn’t much of a scorer,” said the 5-foot-8 guard
from Plainwell, Mich. “(Last) summer, I really worked on my
game and my shot. It paid off. I had a lot better year. I was
(both) a scorer and a distributor.”
But the one area she didn’t need any extra work in was competitiveness. In fact, that insatiable drive to win almost resulted in Howrigon leaving the program after her freshman year.
“We were not successful,” Howrigon said of that first season.
“I personally had thoughts of transferring. I didn’t know if this
was the right place for me. But I decided to stick it out because
I knew it could get better.”
And it did. Syljebeck, who shares Howrigon’s passion for
winning, demanded excellence from her returning players.
However, learning to harness Howrigon’s competitiveness
was sometimes a challenge.
“I had to learn, too, with Grace,” Syljebeck said. “I let her
have a bit more freedom. … I gave a little bit, and she gave a
little bit. She had to give a little more than I did, and she did.”
“I guess I have not been the easiest to coach, but it’s just
because I want to win,” Howrigon said. “That is my number
one priority. I want to win everything. And so does coach Sue.
We’ve definitely had some stuff in my four years, but we have
a really good relationship.”
14 | Reflections Spring ’14

By Doug Goodnough

Recruiting some key pieces to supplement Howrigon’s ball
distribution skills was a priority. Syljebeck since added leading scorer and honorable mention All-American guard Sierra
Calhoun and 3-point sharpshooter Morgan Warfield, as well as
interior players like Mackenzie Tomasik and Alexxis Knannlein to the mix.
During Howrigon’s sophomore year, the Saints recorded
their first 20-win season in more than 30 years, just missing