Laura Malernee has knocked down more 3-pointers than she can keep track of. But she does have her favorites.

When she thinks about her four-year career, it’s the first 3-pointer she made that has her nostalgic. Even more nostalgic than the 3-pointer that broke a record.

‘My very first one in my freshman year is the one that stands out to me the most,’ Malernee said. ‘It was one of the first times I actually shot a 3. I kind of remember that the most because it was real special, my first 3 of my career.’

Malernee’s first 3 began a career that would be defined by an unmatched shooting ability from beyond the arc. It’s an ability she carried into the record books. The Division II West Liberty senior guard broke the all-time NCAA women’s 3-point record on Feb. 2, when she drained 3-pointer No. 398.

She also holds the record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer, making at least one in 82 straight.

Malernee didn’t think about breaking the records. Her philosophy is thinking too much leads to missing shots. And at this point, it’s impossible to question her mindset.

‘Whenever I get that ball in my hands and I’m about to shoot it, when I do think about it and think about my follow through and everything like that is when I miss it,’ Malernee said. ‘I always remember to not think about it, just shoot it naturally.’

When she broke the record, Malernee said all pressure was lifted. Although Malernee tried to think of it as only another 3 to add to a growing list, she didn’t deny it carried some extra weight.

The record breaker was her fifth 3-pointer of the night in a game throughout which she shot well. Setting the record that night wasn’t a matter of if but when.

‘We weren’t really focused on it,’ guard Tori Hansen said. ‘She’s just like a huge part of our offense anyway, so it just happened.’

Even when Malernee hasn’t had her shot, she comes through in the clutch. Against Ohio Valley on Feb. 7, her Hilltoppers were down seven in the second half. West Liberty had struggled all night, Malernee included. But WLU stayed within striking distance and took the lead late in the game behind a 3 by Kayla Ayers that put them up 56-55.

Head coach Lynn Ullom ran a set play for her star to get the ball behind the 3-point line. And despite her struggles throughout the game, West Liberty ended up winning 73-70.

‘It’s not only the amount of 3s she’s hit but when she hits them,’ Ullom said. ‘To have someone like Laura, who’s got such a quick release and has been in big game after big game and has hit big 3s in the clutch.’

Ullom’s offense revolves around having players who can shoot the 3. So it was an obvious match when the head coach brought Malernee to West Liberty.

When she was being recruited, Malernee took a trip to West Liberty to watch the Hilltoppers play. She saw plays designed to get the ball to the team’s best 3-point shooter. It was at that point she was sold.

If she could have put herself into the game at that moment, she would have.

‘I remember coming to watch them play, and they had all these designed plays for the 3,’ Malernee said. ‘I absolutely loved it and knew that this is where I wanted to come.’

Malernee’s decision ended up being the right one for both her and West Liberty. Malernee hits 3-pointers even with opposing defenses guarding her as closely as they can. She always gets her opponent’s best defender.

But their best is rarely enough.

Ullom said Malernee was being guarded from about 26 feet from the basket in an early-season game. The defense didn’t want to let her get any closer.

But as the shot clock approached zero, Malernee took the deep 3-pointer and drained it.

‘Those are the ones you kind of laugh at on the bench and say, ‘What are they going to do?” Ullom said. ‘Because that’s not normal.’

The first 3-pointer might have been the most memorable for Malernee, even more than the one that etched her name into women’s college basketball lore. But when her career at West Liberty is over, she’ll have the record breaker to reminisce about, too.

‘That’ll be with me my whole life,’ Malernee said. ‘It’s a really awesome feeling to have it.’

cjiseman@syr.edu

 

Published on February 14, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman