Marquette University Athletics
Anderson and Spingola Reflect on Four Years
2/28/2020 11:56:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Senior Day this Sunday at 2 p.m. CT
With one game left of the BIG EAST regular season, Marquette women's basketball seniors Altia Anderson and Isabelle Spingola will play what could be their final home game on Sunday against No. 16 DePaul at 2 p.m.
The BIG EAST regular-season finale will feature a special senior day celebration before the contest to honor our numbers 20 and 30. While it is always humbling to take time and reflect, the two seniors also realize there is more to accomplish this season.
"Coach Duffy has done a great job of teaching us to live in the present," says Spingola. "We try to stay consistent through the good and bad (moments) and are always looking at how we can get better."
In a revitalized program that features seven new teammates and a new head coach, Tia and Izzy had to transition into new leadership positions. Spingola says that the responsibility did not come easy right away.
"It took time at first because both Altia and I had to step out of our comfort zones in these new roles. But now it feels more second nature to be a leader and help out the younger players on the team."
Their leadership has allowed the them to see the progression of their team and of certain newcomers.
"At the beginning of the year Cam (Camryn Taylor) would swat at the ball when people would go up for a layup," says Anderson. "But she had a game recently when she went straight up without fouling and ended up getting the defensive rebound. When I saw her do that, and use what we've been teaching her, I almost shed a tear."
"This season has been special just from watching (the freshmen) grow," says Spingola. Whether that's learning a new move, doing it in a game, and knocking down that shot, it's fun to see it start to work out for them."
Over their four years in Milwaukee, both Anderson and Spingola feel that they too have grown tremendously as players, and as women. To achieve this growth, Anderson says that a lot of their success is due to embracing discomfort.
"You come in as a freshman not knowing a whole lot, just ready to grow. Real soon I realized that learning and growing is kind of hard. You have to do things you're not used to doing in order to get results you're not used to seeing."
There are some moments outside of the Al McGuire Center that have inspired growth in a different way.
"Off the court, there are so many events we've gone to that have taught me public speaking skills and how to talk with people in the right way," says Spingola. "I've learned how to speak to all kinds of people, which has given me confidence and helped shape me into the woman I am."
Even though the growth was difficult at times, Anderson and Spingola are appreciative of their time here and the countless memories they have made.
"Winning the BIG EAST Tournament Championship freshman year and going to Australia are definitely some highlights," says Spingola. "Even Louie's (Lauren Van Kleunen) game-winner this season against Creighton was a fun experience, not only for her but for the whole team."
Anderson says that there are so many more little moments that occur on a daily basis in the locker room that she will cherish.
The efforts of Spingola and Anderson through their leadership and on-court performance have the Golden Eagles sitting second in the BIG EAST standings with a record of 12-5 in conference play. These results come after Marquette was picked to finish second-to-last in the Preseason Rankings.
With one game left in the regular season, there are still more expectations the team hopes to defy.
"Being picked to finish ninth in the conference has definitely put a chip on our shoulders," says Anderson. "Our motto for this season has been to just keep on growing and taking it one game at a time. At the end of the day, who knows how far we're capable of going? … The goal is to give it our best each game and let everything else fall into place."
The BIG EAST regular-season finale will feature a special senior day celebration before the contest to honor our numbers 20 and 30. While it is always humbling to take time and reflect, the two seniors also realize there is more to accomplish this season.
"Coach Duffy has done a great job of teaching us to live in the present," says Spingola. "We try to stay consistent through the good and bad (moments) and are always looking at how we can get better."
In a revitalized program that features seven new teammates and a new head coach, Tia and Izzy had to transition into new leadership positions. Spingola says that the responsibility did not come easy right away.
"It took time at first because both Altia and I had to step out of our comfort zones in these new roles. But now it feels more second nature to be a leader and help out the younger players on the team."
Their leadership has allowed the them to see the progression of their team and of certain newcomers.
"At the beginning of the year Cam (Camryn Taylor) would swat at the ball when people would go up for a layup," says Anderson. "But she had a game recently when she went straight up without fouling and ended up getting the defensive rebound. When I saw her do that, and use what we've been teaching her, I almost shed a tear."
"This season has been special just from watching (the freshmen) grow," says Spingola. Whether that's learning a new move, doing it in a game, and knocking down that shot, it's fun to see it start to work out for them."
Over their four years in Milwaukee, both Anderson and Spingola feel that they too have grown tremendously as players, and as women. To achieve this growth, Anderson says that a lot of their success is due to embracing discomfort.
"You come in as a freshman not knowing a whole lot, just ready to grow. Real soon I realized that learning and growing is kind of hard. You have to do things you're not used to doing in order to get results you're not used to seeing."
There are some moments outside of the Al McGuire Center that have inspired growth in a different way.
"Off the court, there are so many events we've gone to that have taught me public speaking skills and how to talk with people in the right way," says Spingola. "I've learned how to speak to all kinds of people, which has given me confidence and helped shape me into the woman I am."
Even though the growth was difficult at times, Anderson and Spingola are appreciative of their time here and the countless memories they have made.
"Winning the BIG EAST Tournament Championship freshman year and going to Australia are definitely some highlights," says Spingola. "Even Louie's (Lauren Van Kleunen) game-winner this season against Creighton was a fun experience, not only for her but for the whole team."
Anderson says that there are so many more little moments that occur on a daily basis in the locker room that she will cherish.
The efforts of Spingola and Anderson through their leadership and on-court performance have the Golden Eagles sitting second in the BIG EAST standings with a record of 12-5 in conference play. These results come after Marquette was picked to finish second-to-last in the Preseason Rankings.
With one game left in the regular season, there are still more expectations the team hopes to defy.
"Being picked to finish ninth in the conference has definitely put a chip on our shoulders," says Anderson. "Our motto for this season has been to just keep on growing and taking it one game at a time. At the end of the day, who knows how far we're capable of going? … The goal is to give it our best each game and let everything else fall into place."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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