Middlebrooks aces long-distance range

February 15, 2012 at 12:07a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

There’s no nice way to say this: Four years ago, Youngstown State guard Kenya Middlebrooks was a lousy 3-point shooter.

She made 2 of 20 from behind the arc as a freshman and, while YSU doesn’t keep official stats, it’s safe to say she had more airballs than 3-balls. Had you told people she’d eventually finish her career ranked as high as second on YSU’s career 3-point list, they would have given you a blank stare, then slowly inched away from your seat.

Not anymore. After making 60 3-pointers as a junior last season — seventh-most in Penguin history — Middlebrooks has made a career-best 63 3-pointers this year and has a good chance of catching Leslie Majewski, whose 70 3-pointers in 1999-2000 rank third all time.

(Heather Karnar holds the single-season record with 87 in 2007-08.)

“People would sag off me freshman year,” said Middlebrooks, who has made 63 of 171 3s this year. “Now they play a little close on me.

“It’s kind of good to have the option of shooting a 3 or driving the basket.”

Middlebrooks, a 5-foot-7 senior guard from Toledo, ranks first in the Horizon League in 3-pointers per game at 2.6 (the next-closest is 2.1) and is seventh in 3-point percentage (36.8).

On Jan. 26, she set YSU’s single-game record with eight 3-pointers and some in the program believe Middlebrooks has made the biggest jump of any player over the past few years.

“Statistically speaking, she’s made the biggest improvement and it’s exciting to be a part of that,” said YSU’s second-year coach, Bob Boldon. “This year she’s shooting a legitimate percentage, she’s shooting a lot of shots and making a lot of shots.”

Middlebrooks has made 149 3-pointers, which ranks fourth on YSU’s all-time list. Dianne Rappach (1988-92) holds YSU’s career record for 3-pointers with 198, which is out of reach. But with five games left, she could still catch Cathy Hanek (who made 153 from 2000-05) and Majewski (166 from 1996-00).

That’s probably not good enough for YSU to consider retiring her jersey, but maybe her signature goggles?

“No, I’m gonna need them,” she said, laughing. “They can have the old ones. They broke, so they can bury them somewhere.”

Middlebrooks will play her final two home games this weekend, starting on Thursday against Milwaukee. When asked if she’ll view them any different, she shook her head.

“I’ve been trying to enjoy the whole season,” she said. “[This weekend doesn’t] necessarily mean more. It means about the same. We’ve just got to go out and get a win.”