Cronk named one of nation's top 3-point shooters

By Joe Doss-Antoun

Though her name might not perk up any ears at the national level just yet, junior Chandice Cronk's offensive explosion this season will soon have women's college basketball fans across the nation recognizing her name.

The self-proclaimed "little dribbler" from Northway, Alaska, has not only made a name for herself in the West Coast Conference, but her sharp shooting from three-point range has her ranked among the best in the NCAA.

Cronk, who was born and raised in a village of no more than 300 people, found excitement in the game of basketball at a young age.

"I grew up where there weren't really any other sports, so all I ever played was basketball," said Cronk. "I played before school, at lunch, after school, whenever. I was just in the gym all the time."

As a freshman in high school, Cronk played for her varsity team at Walter Northway High School. In only her fourth game, she scored 50 points. The next year, Cronk moved to Wasilla, a more metropolitan area in Alaska, where she continued to dominate at the sport she loved. As a senior in 2004, Cronk was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year.

Three years later, Cronk has developed into one of the best three-point shooters in the nation.

Of the three major statistical categories for three-point shooting, Cronk is the only player in the NCAA who ranks among the top seven in each. She is first in three-point field goals made (87), first in three-point field goals made per game (3.5), and is seventh in the nation with a 44.8 shooting percentage.

"With all of the great players out there, I feel honored to be ranked among some of the best," said Cronk.

In addition to her national accomplishments this season, Cronk has been climbing up some of the more impressive career ranks at Santa Clara.

Currently, Cronk ranks third all time for three-pointers made. Her total of 181 is behind only Quinn Thomas ('05) and current Bronco teammate, Ashley Graham.

"I try not to think about the records, but I do hear about it a lot," said Cronk. "My parents remind me about it a lot, but they're just being parents."

Furthermore, Cronk stands 63 points shy of joining the 1,000-Point Club, which consists of only fifteen other Broncos. Graham, a senior, is currently 31 points shy of joining the club in her own right.

"Reaching 1,000 points is incredible," said Cronk. "It's one of those things you don't really think you can do."

Whether she envisioned it as a possibility or not, Cronk now stands on pace to join the club before the end of this season. And with another year of eligibility left, Cronk will have all of next season to add to her total.

Though it is her stats that catch the casual fan's attention, it is her ability to rise under pressure that Cronk cherishes the most. On two separate occasions against the University of San Francisco, Cronk found herself under the spotlight, with her team on her shoulders.

Last year, in the semifinals of the WCC tournament, Cronk nailed a three as time expired to send the game into overtime. The Broncos went on to win the game and the tournament.

"I've made big shots before in my life, but that was the craziest thing I've ever done," said Cronk. "I will never forget that moment."

This year, Santa Clara found themselves in another nail-biter versus the Dons when the game went into double overtime. Cronk once again bailed the Broncos out with an unearthly 16 points in overtime, including three three-pointers.

"Chandice has really developed into a great leader for our team," said head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "And it's been a combination of our coaches asking her to be a leader, but also her demanding it of herself."

While it has been her offense that has caught the attention of opposing teams, Cronk claims that it's her aggressiveness on both ends of the court that makes her the player she is.

"People know I can shoot the ball, but what I want them to see is that I'm a hard worker, dirty, and a go-get-it kinda player," said Cronk.

Bento-Jackson was attending the End of the Oregon Trail Classic when she first noticed the incredible talent from Alaska.

"She was defending a young lady who was being very highly recruited, and she just didn't back down. She was feisty and very competitive," said Benito-Jackson.

"I just fell in love with her then, and I still hadn't even seen her shoot the ball."

Bento-Jackson was immediately impressed and decided to contact Cronk's AAU coach to find out the rest of the team's schedule.

Bento-Jackson saw everything she needed to see before she offered Cronk the opportunity to come play for the Broncos.

"I came down to Santa Clara, and I was immediately hooked," said Cronk. "It was the first school on my tour, so I just called and canceled the rest."

Unfortunately for the other schools looking at Cronk, which included the likes of U.C. Davis and Creighton University, arguably the nation's best three-point shooter resides at Mission Campus.

With four games left on the regular season schedule, Cronk and the Broncos will try and build some momentum going into the WCC tournament.

This week, the Broncos (13-12, 5-5) will travel south to face San Diego on Thursday and San Francisco on Sunday.

Contact Joe Doss-Antoun at (408) 551-1918 or jdossantoun@scu.edu.