Christie Mooney’s hard work to improve her defense earned her a spot in the Blinn Buccaneers’ starting lineup.
But it’s her offense that convinced Wayland Baptist University to offer her a full scholarship to play for the Queens beginning this winter.
Mooney, a 5-foot-9 sophomore from Pflugerville, signed with Wayland Baptist on Wednesday after helping the Buccaneers to a 22-10 record and a trip to the Region XIV Conference Tournament semifinals.
“I really liked the atmosphere and the friendly people,” Mooney said. “I feel like it’s a place where I can go and make a difference in their basketball program and succeed academically.”
Mooney averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, but averaged 14 points in her 13 starts at the end of the season. She scored at least nine points in each of those starts, including 20 points in the Region XIV Conference Tournament semifinals. She scored at least 20 points three times.
“I should have started her sooner,” Blinn women’s basketball coach Jeff Jenkins said. “Wayland Baptist is getting a steal with her.”
Mooney spent one season at Blinn after playing her freshman year at Columbia College.
She joins a Wayland Baptist squad that went 11-17 last season and 9-13 in Sooner Athletic Conference play. Wayland Baptist is an NAIA program located in Plainview, Texas.
“Her best basketball is ahead of her,” Jenkins said. “She’s turning into a really good player and every day she’s getting better.”
Blinn has proven to be a recruiting hotbed for coach Tory Bryant and Wayland Baptist. Former Buccaneers Jessica Walker, Toia Wiltz and Shamon Doss have each gone on to play for the Queens in recent years.
“Jeff does a great job with his kids,” Bryant said. “His kids play extremely hard and he does a good job of developing young ladies. Hopefully we can keep coming back and continue this relationship.”
For more information on Blinn women’s basketball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.