Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By John Franklin
This season will mark another with the last name Martin on the Quinnipiac women’s basketball score sheet, but the first name is going to be one that fans might not recognize right away.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have four more years of a Martin in a uniform,” coach Tricia Fabbri said.
Enter Brittany Martin. She begins her freshman year just months after her older sister Jasmine’s illustrious career ended in March. Most would say Brittany has some big shoes to fill, but the 18-year-old point guard has a different mindset.
“[Jasmine] has a legacy,” Martin said. “I just want to make my own name, and make my own footprints. I did it all through high school, and now it’s time to do it here.”
Fabbri agrees.
“As far as trying to fill big shoes I don’t think she’s trying to fill any shoes with Jasmine,” Fabbri continued. “I think she carries a great amount of pride and carries a torch for her sister, but she came up here to be her best and to help Quinnipiac achieve even more than what her sister was able to.”
The Sicklerville, NJ native is very excited to be spending her next four years under Fabbri.
“I love it,” Martin said. “It’s seriously like a big family since I’ve been around her for four extra years (when Jasmine played) and I know her that much better and it’s just a great coaching staff.”
Martin was an outstanding high school player. She averaged 20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 steals per game in her senior season for Timber Creek High School. Martin was named to the 2014-15 New Jersey All-Group Three First Team. She even broke her sister’s all-time scoring record at Timber Creek posting a staggering 1,851 points.
“(Jasmine) was really proud of me,” the younger Martin recalled. “It was really exciting.”
But how did Brittany get so good? She laughed as she talked about her and Jasmine’s one-on-one games.
“We tend not to play too much because if I get up on her she’ll start housing me.” Martin said, “She’ll just start knocking me down. She knows my game and knows what I’m going to do every time.”
The transition from high school to college can be tough on any freshman, especially a student-athlete. Fabbri praised the freshman’s work ethic.
“Brittany has done a really solid job transitioning just into the whole college life,” Fabbri said.
The coach praised Jasmine for what she did for the program, but says it’s Brittany’s time to make it bigger.
“Jasmine put Quinnipiac basketball on the map, and now it’s time for Brittany to help hang some banners and make some more NCAA tournament appearances.”
Brittany, herself, has goals in mind of what she wants to accomplish in her career in blue and gold.
“Short term I just want to come in make an impact. I expect us to get back to where we were last year,” Martin said. “Long term I hope to get a few rings, help get coach some more rings and get some more banners in here. I really want to leave an impact on the school the way Jasmine did.”
