During the summer in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Mikalea Rogers is not on the court, but working on the farm. The senior standout for the Endicott women’s basketball team has been working on her family's farm for her entire life. She loves the work. It is hard, but rewarding. It gives her a toughness that can be seen on the court.
Rogers is having a career year for the Gulls, averaging 12.8 points per game, six rebounds per game, and a career high in both steals and field goal percentage. Rogers credits her acceleration to one of the top players in the conference to those summer days and her teammates, “Growing up on a farm and watching how my family works really allowed me to have many positive role models in my life who have shown me how to develop a strong work ethic.”
Rogers was a Commonwealth Coast Conference Third-Teamer this past season, while averaging roughly 11 points and six rebounds per game. She had a game similar to Kevin McHale in his younger years, someone who came off the bench and provided a necessary spark down low and on the glass as well as showing great leadership and defense. She ended up flipping back and forth between the starting lineup and bench unit, mostly depending on how she and the starter at the time were playing heading into certain games.
Rogers not only has accepted the challenge on the court, but off the court as well. As a senior, she made it clear that helping the incoming freshmen adapt to not only college basketball life, but college life in general, was a top priority of hers, “The returners put a major emphasis on helping the freshmen adapt to college life, whether that be through academics, athletics, or socially. We all know how difficult freshman year is, I think this class in particular has adapted well these last few months.”
As of the publishing of this article, Endicott sits at a 4-4 record with a healthy 2-1 in conference record to start the season. Rogers and the Gulls are looking to capture a CCC title, a goal that has eluded them last season. Rogers plans on getting this team to the promised land. She stresses teamwork, and made that very clear during our sitdown. She has always been a team first player, and emphasized the potential this team has and the work they have put in.
Endicott plays their next game vs Connecticut College on Sunday, Dec. 29th.
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