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Maddy Siegrist is spending her summer improving a part of her game to give opposing defenses additional concerns when she steps on the floor with the Villanova University women’s basketball team during the 2021-2022 season.
“This summer I’m really focusing on my midrange game,” she told CNY during a lunch break at the Maddy Siegrist Girls Basketball Clinic at Poughkeepsie Day School in the Town of Poughkeepsie Aug. 16.
“I’m comfortable inside, I’m comfortable shooting the ball from three and getting those shots off. Just having the ball in my hands to create different shots is what I’m focused on.”
The Our Lady of Lourdes High School graduate, who also played in the St. Martin de Porres CYO program in Poughkeepsie, already has been a handful for Villanova opponents.
As a sophomore, she became only the third player in Big East history to lead the conference in both scoring and rebounding, and became the quickest Villanova player to reach 1,000 career points, notching the milestone in her 50th collegiate game.
The two-time, first-team All-Big East player was named the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year and the United States Basketball Writers Association selected her as an honorable mention All-American following her sophomore season, when she led Villanova to a 17-7 record and the WNIT quarterfinals.
In 2019-2020, Maddy was named the Big East Rookie of the Year, a year after being red-shirted due to a preseason foot injury. The red-shirt season gave her the opportunity to learn Villanova’s motion offense, and become physically stronger and a better shooter, she said. She shot 34 percent from three-point range, and averaged 20.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in her first two Villanova seasons.
“It helped me get bigger and stronger, and it really allowed me to focus on my shooting because I couldn't really do anything on my foot,” she said of the red-shirt season. “I extended my range to shoot the three. In high school, I really didn’t have to shoot outside shots because I was so much taller than everybody. All of a sudden, you’re in college and everyone is your height. You have to work on different elements of your game.”
Maddy has set higher goals for herself and the Wildcats for the next two years.
“It’s definitely a goal to get in the NCAA tournament and win a few games. Getting in there is the hardest part,” said Maddy, who hopes a professional basketball career in the WNBA or Europe will follow her career at Villanova.
Maddy was a two-time, high school all-state player who averaged 32.7 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in her senior season at Lourdes. She is one of four children of George and Ginna Siegrist. Her father played basketball at Marist College and later coached thereHe’s now a coach with Edge Athletics.
“She comes from a great family,” said Jim Santoro, founder and coach of Edge Athletics, who is entering his 33rd season as varsity boys’ basketball coach at Lourdes. “There’s no surprise she’s turned out the way she is because she was like that when she was younger...She was always mature, always respectful and always hard working.”
Santoro assisted Maddy at her clinic with Edge Athletics coach Tom Jordan at Poughkeepsie Day School, located down the street from Lourdes.
“I’ve known her for a long time,” Santoro said. “She’s fun to watch. She really worked at her game and put the time in. She’s earned what she’s got.
“The kids look up to her and she’s great with the kids.”
Ava Trocino, 13, is Maddy’s cousin and was one of the 14 participants at the one-day clinic.
“I’m really proud of what she’s accomplished,” Ava said. “I look up to her because I like basketball and she’s really good at basketball. She’s been an influence for girls my age who want to go to college and play basketball.”
Chase Harris, 12, played in the St. Martin de Porres CYO program, and was excited to meet and learn from Maddy.
“I was hoping she would be here,” she said. “I thought it was cool to meet somebody at her level who could teach us stuff.”
Meghan Abbate, 10, is entering fifth grade at St. Martin de Porres School, where she participates in the parish’s CYO program.
“She’s good at basketball, and she’s good at teaching other people how to play. We just like her,” Meghan said.
