What is it about Morse that fosters Yale women's basketball captains? For the last three years captains Maria Siambekos, MC '94, Bari Porter, MC '95, and now Kathleen Offer, MC '96, have toted the legendary MC after their names. Offer, 1996's star of the season, said it is because, "Morse is so close to the gym. All the people in Morse are very concerned and supportive of all their fellow Morsels who are varsity athletes."
Did being in Morse alone propel Offer to her current standing of success? Probably not. Faced with adversity and the disadvantage of being 5'3", this Yale and Ivy League career assists leader achieved her goals through sheer determination and hard work.
Her teammates recognized her commitment to them and to basketball when they elected her captain this fall. Offer acknowledges how important being the team's captain is to her, "Being a captain at Yale is very special because your teammates, by selecting you, let you know that they trust and respect you and that they want you to lead them. Your teammates have put you in that position because they believe you can help them."
With the Bulldogs' 6-4 Ivy record, Offer has a lot to be excited and proud about in her final season. As the starting point guard since her freshman year, this year she has contributed a solid 6.0 points per contest while knocking down treys at a 33.3 percent clip. Over the course of this season, Offer has led the way to victory by dishing out 87 assists and accumulating 60 steals. About last weekend's definitive win against highly recognized Princeton, "Sweeping Princeton was very nice, especially since we beat them on their court," Offer said.
This season has been particularly kind to Kathleen because of the team's successes not only on the court, but off the court as well. Under Offer's leadership, the women's basketball team decided to have a "dry" season. Offer said, "I think [the dry season] has helped in that it is one thing we are all able to bond over and we all take it very seriously."
Offer will not be lost, however, when the Fonz graces the Old Campus at the end of May. "I'm looking forward to entering the next phase of my life. But I've been very satisfied with my time at Yale and wouldn't trade it for anything. I'll miss it when I'm gone." Certainly next season the women's basketball team will miss its four year star Kathleen Offer, but maybe it can look to Morse for some help next year.
-Michelle Baden
Copyright 1995, The Yale Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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