Allenbaugh hits two major milestones

Jamie Allenbaugh

Saints senior reaches 1,000 points one game after grabbing 500th rebound

By Michael O’Donnell

Flagler Forward/Center Jamie Allenbaugh sealed her name in the Flagler College women’s basketball history books when she scored her 1,000th point and 500th rebound.

The Flagler College senior made her 500th rebound milestone in a game against Warner Southern and then one game later, against the University of Tampa Allenbaugh reached the 1,000-point mark after she made a pair of free throws during the 12th minute of play.

“Once I got my 500th rebound against Warner, they were determined not to let me get my 1000th point as well, so they were double and triple teaming me,” Allenbaugh said. “That along with all of the pressure to score exactly 21 points is why I came just four points short of the milestone [in the Warner game].”

The two landmark achievements move Allenbaugh to second on the list for all-time rebounds, behind only Amy Richmond who played at Flagler from 1998-2002 and has 738 career rebounds. Allenbaugh also moves to third all- time in scoring behind 2006 Flagler College Hall of Fame inductee, Kathy Kessler (who played for the Saints from 1975-1978) with 1,500 career points, and Tara Teague (who played from 1996-2000) with 1,378 career points.

Success on the basketball court for Allenbaugh, who began playing at the age of five in her native Pittsburgh, has become somewhat commonplace. In the 2005-2006 season, Allenbaugh was named Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year and was named to the All Conference team.

“The scoring and rebound accomplishments are great, but for me to be named conference player of the year and named to the all conference team is the biggest basketball accomplishments I have achieved,” she said.

The modest Allenbaugh, whose achievements and successes speak for themselves, does not allow the greater team goals to be overshadowed.

According to her long-time teammates Alicia Ramsdell and Brittney Garmon, it is her spirit and dedication for the game of basketball that have made Allenbaugh into the great player she has become.

“She is not very much of a vocal leader on the court, but her dedication speaks for itself,” Garmon said.
Ramsdell agrees that Allenbaugh’s dedication and will to win every night is a huge factor in the Saints’ success, as well as setting a high standard of achievement for the young players coming into the Flagler College women’s basketball program.

“She always comes in from off-season in shape and sets a great example for the younger players on our team,” Ramsdell said.

As well as Allenbaugh has played for the Saints, Coach Sherri Abbey-Nowatzki believes she has not met her ultimate potential, and that with more time and coaching, she can become an even better player than she already is.

“She has done a tremendous job for an under-sized player and has really come into her own,” Abbey-Nowatzki said. “If you ask Jamie, she will probably tell you that I am the only person that has really challenged her. I just wish I had a full three or for years to coach her.”