By Laura Amato
Madison Rowland knew what was coming. Her whole team knew.
They even wore special shirts to mark the occasion, emblazoned with “Witness #11” on them as Rowland prepared to make history.
Six points. Rowland only needed six points to reach the coveted 2,000-point mark Jan. 11. The senior star did even better – she scored 19 points, cruising past the mark just a few minutes into the Knights’ matchup against Daemen. Rowland became just the second player in program history to reach the scoring threshold, cementing her place in the team’s record books.
“I was nervous, but it was only six points, so I thought I could do it,” said Rowland. “I did have a five-point game earlier the season, though, so I knew nothing was guaranteed. I was nervous, but everyone was just trying to keep me calm and keep me excited. It was great.”
Rowland also became the all-time ECC leader in field goals made with 796 late in the third quarter against Daemen. She followed up her historic night with another dominant performance Saturday, racking up 17 points against LIU Post for her fifth straight double-digit game.
It’s simply been that kind of season for Rowland, a senior who has made a habit of making history, scoring points and earning accolades nearly on a weekly basis.
“It kind of came as a surprise. I wasn’t expecting coming into college and doing everything I’ve done, but now that it’s happening, I’m trying to live in the moment,” Rowland said. “I enjoy every second. I’m just trying to savor it.”
In her first 17 games this season, Rowland averaged 20.7 points per game, shooting a blistering 50.3 percent from the floor; however, she doesn’t consider herself a pure scorer.
Rowland is a defender first and, throughout her career, has sparked her offense with her defense performance.
“I probably scored at least half of those points off defense. That’s my game,” she said.
Rowland is a bit overwhelmed by her foray into history, but she’s the first to point out that her teammates have been with her every step of the way. And, throughout her career, those teammates have included her sisters.
The Rowland trio – Madison, Merrick and MacKenzie – have helped turn around the women’s program at Queens College. Merrick Rowland notched her own historic moment on Saturday as well, becoming just the third player to record 1,000 career points and rebounds.
“It’s just funny because in high school we were all playing together and we were good,” Rowland said. “But now it’s just even bigger than that and it’s great to see.”
Rowland now has her sights set on the next scoring marker – looking to break Shalonda Young’s all-time scoring total (2,166 points) in the next few weeks. It’s a mark Rowland never pictured for herself, but she’s more than ready to make a bit more history.
“That’s definitely the plan,” she said. “I just want to try and play and let it happen for me.”
