Brooke Paquette's Sophomore Surge
In just her second season, Brooke Paquette has emerged as a standout force for Stonehill College, delivering performances that hint at a rapid evolution from promising freshman to impact player. After a solid debut season where an injury-plagued roster could only manage 4 wins, Paquette’s transformation this year has been nothing short of electric.
In Stonehill’s 79-46 victory over Emmanuel College on Thursday, Paquette showed just how much her game has grown over the summer. Scoring 12 of her 14 points in the first half alone, she set the tone for the game, driving Stonehill’s offense with precision and efficiency. Her stat line—4-for-11 from the field, 2-for-6 from three, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line—highlights her shooting ability, but it’s her all-around contributions that are even more impressive. She dished out a career-best eight assists, grabbed two rebounds, and recorded four steals, all while looking relentlessly energetic on the floor. The Skyhawks were able to change their approach against the overmatched opponent in the second half, or the stat line might have been even more impressive.
The growth was already apparent in Stonehill’s season opener against Rhode Island, where despite the team's loss, Paquette poured in 15 points, went 6-for-14 from the field, and added six assists. She’s showing a knack for taking control of the pace, navigating defenses, and creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. But what’s striking about Paquette’s game right now is her speed. This season, she’s not just appearing to be playing mentally faster—she’s visibly moving faster, making explosive drives to the basket, pulling defenders, and finding the open player. When Emmanuel tried to pressure her with a press defense, she was easily able to get around the first player. This is crucial to opening up Stonehill's offense, as she’s now able to shift seamlessly between roles as a scorer and a facilitator.
Coach Trisha Brown has to be thrilled with Paquette’s early-season performances, which have not only elevated Stonehill’s offensive dynamics directly but is also setting up teammates like Sharn Hayward (16 points against Emmanuel) and Kylie Swider (15 against Rhode Island). As she continues to grow into her role, Paquette is proving to be a player capable of taking charge and creating opportunities, giving Stonehill a potent weapon in their lineup. If these first two games are any indication, Paquette’s sophomore year promises to be one where she fully realizes her potential, playing faster, smarter, and more fearlessly than ever. We might be at the point already where we’ve seen her evolve into the best player on the court in most games. That’s how good Paquette is looking so far.
