LaTonya Blue is certainly making the most of her final season.
The 5-foot-11-inch senior guard from Baltimore, Maryland has continued to improve her all-around game under coach Debbie Ryan this year, particularly on the offensive end. Blue's production has risen this year from 9.6 to 12.6 points, good enough to be Virginia's second leading scorer behind Brandi Teamer and her 12.7 average.
In her four years at Virginia, Blue has more often played the part of distributor at her point guard position, leading the team in assists in each of the three previous seasons. Her diverse talents led her to be selected as the team's Cavalier of the Year, Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive Player last year. With the emergence of freshman Sharnee Zoll at the point guard position, however, Blue has found herself on the receiving end of the assists more often, emphasizing her offensive game.
"My teammates are always telling me they feel comfortable with the ball in my hands and taking shots," Blue said. "So as long as I have the confidence of my teammates and my coaches, I'll be willing to step up and take that responsibility."
Despite her increased share of the offensive load, Blue's point guard instincts are still intact as she continues to average nearly five assists per game and to keep the entire team involved in the game. Ryan, however, likes the new direction Blue is headed.
"LaTonya has a way of deciding in games -- deciding whether to help her teammates or to find her own shot," Ryan said. "I told her that she really needs to be looking for her shot all the time, so she stays in rhythm. Our team just feeds off of her, and it really helps us."
Blue's scoring makes it even more difficult for defenders to find ways to stop her. Instead of simply playing off Blue and denying the passing lanes, teams now must respect her shot and play her much closer. If they get too close, she makes the pass. If they play too far off, she can hit the shot, resulting in many frustrated defenders.
"It makes her a better playmaker because players have to play up on her," Ryan said.
Blue's leadership, as well as that of the rest of the senior class, has been a tremendous asset for the Cavaliers. Coming off a disappointing season without an NCAA tournament selection, and with a freshman point guard leading the offense, the seniors have been instrumental in helping the team battle back and win in a tough ACC.
Ryan recognizes the contributions of this talented and motivated senior class.
"You just don't know how happy I am for this group," she said. "They have invested so much into this season and into getting better. It's a really satisfying feeling for me knowing they have taken this over and it's really their baby. It's been a really good year so far."
The Cavaliers' next ACC test will be at U-Hall on Monday against North Carolina.
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