By: Ethan Fuller<\/p>\n
Boston University women’s basketball rostered 14 Terriers in the 2021 season. One player doubled as a shark.<\/p>\n
Mackenzie Miers became known for exemplifying “Shark Mentality” during her time at BU. The 6-foot-2 forward is part of a three-person senior class that helped turn around the entire program, culminating in a Patriot League title game appearance this season. Along the way, Miers found intrinsic motivation, self-confidence and the desire to attack every day. Her internal development highlights the power and pressure placed on college athletes.<\/p>\n
I talked to Miers to reflect on her college basketball career, her personal evolution, and her next steps.<\/p>\n
EF: Was there a moment after the Patriot League championship game or in the next couple of days where it dawned on you that this is it?<\/em><\/p>\n MM: I think in the last couple seconds of the game, Tenisha [Pressley] and I looked at each other, and I don’t remember who said it, but one of us said, “It’s really over.” And I was just trying to sit there and embrace those last couple of seconds on the clock because it felt like a blink of an eye. It all just went so fast.<\/p>\n Even if it was just looking around at Case Gym — it was a moment, for sure. I think we both got teary-eyed when we realized how fast it went, because it was really the best four years of my life. I feel like it was such a family atmosphere. So it definitely hit me, as soon as I realized it was gonna be over. Part of my mind is still almost hoping it’s not.<\/p>\n EF: When you think about this journey that you, Tenisha and Katie Nelson have gone on — I mean, you went through a coaching change, COVID, the best season in the last 15 years of the program — what do you think about?<\/em><\/p>\n MM: I feel like I think about our freshman year, which was our worst year, but I just remember that the seniors back then were always so “leaderly”. I remember them always saying they just want to leave the program in a better spot. So I guess when I look back at it, I just think about how far we’ve come, and then to also just see Tenisha, Katie and I grow beyond the basketball. Even just changing majors or doing anything, it’s been really awesome to see us all blossom.<\/p>\n EF: What do you think your most proud moment on the court has been?<\/em><\/p>\n MM: I think my most proud moment personally was my junior year in the Cal [nonconference] game we played. We lost, but I had a good game, and I just remember thinking: Why am I so afraid? This team is so good; why can’t I just be confident when we play Colgate or whoever? So that was a proud moment, and I guess this year, too, just all the little moments I got to go in and do anything. It felt really good.<\/p>\n But it’s funny because even though most kids might say, “Oh, I remember the games the most,” when I look back, I often think about practice and moments behind the scenes that mean the most to me.<\/p>\n\n