March 10, 2006

     NEW HAVEN — Joe Frager is meticulous. Perfection is never out of reach in his eyes.
     So when he told Shamika Jackson to take some bad shots during Southern Connecticut’s preseason scrimmage with Fairfield earlier this year, there was obvious disbelief.
     "She just looked at me," Frager said. "Then the official turned to her and said, ‘He wants you to shoot the ball.’"
     Jackson, a sophomore guard who transferred from Boston College, has done more than shoot the ball lately. In fact, there’s little she hasn’t done, helping the Owls to the top seed in this weekend’s NCAA Division II Northeast Regional tournament.
     The Owls, ranked 16th nationally with a 27-3 record, play host to Philadelphia Sciences today at 6 p.m., the third of four games at Moore Fieldhouse.
     "I don’t have to ask her to take bad shots anymore," said Frager, who leads the Owls into their third NCAA tournament in four years. "We’re beyond that. But she’s always been a pass-first, shoot-second type of player. She’ll get more excited about a good assist than a score."
     Jackson is averaging 12.9 points per game, but 18.2 in her last 10, including 26 in the Northeast-10 Conference championship game against St. Rose. Jackson also averages 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.9 blocks.
     "I try to explain to people that night in and night out she is not going to be someone who goes for 20, 24, or 28 points," said Frager, whose Owls have won 12 straight and 24 of their last 25. "A good line for her is 15 points, six boards, four steals, four assists and a couple of blocks.
     "But she’s sensed we’ve needed more scoring at times and has gotten us 24 or 26 points."
     Jackson, the Register’s State Player of the Year at East Catholic-Manchester, admits it took her a little while to adjust to the system, but quickly adds she is extremely comfortable with all aspects of her life at Southern.
     "I have more time, a social life," said Jackson, an elementary education major. "Your schedule in Division I is ridiculous. I’m able to relax and get my work done. I love going to classes. I’ve made a lot of friends here. I really just feel comfortable here."
     Jackson was ranked 32nd nationally by Blue Star Index coming out of high school and competed in the USA Junior Olympic Festival.
     But she never let her past accolades get in the way of adapting to her new team.
     "When you get a transfer it can be wonderful or hell," Frager said. "We’ve been lucky because (Jackson’s) been great. We’ve never had to deal with any type of big-time attitude. She’s just a very unselfish kid by nature."
     Jackson said she never put much pressure on herself coming to Southern.
     "I just came in open-minded, as if I was a freshman again, learning a new system," Jackson said. "I was surprised how competitive it was at this level. I didn’t know it was such a competitive conference."
     "Once she got comfortable it all fell into place and she’s been playing great," said assistant coach Kim Jackle, the NE-10 player of the year a year ago. "She just can score and create anything. She can shoot over people. The times I think she’s not going to shoot it, she does, and when I think she’s going to shoot, she doesn’t."