Deanna Mayza displayed her offensive acumen on the basketball court in the opening round of the America East Conference tournament earlier this month. She scored a game-high 21 points to help lead the University of Hartford to a 74-40 quarterfinal round victory over UMBC on March 4.

                The following day, the senior point guard from Upper Hanover Township delivered 14 points against the University of Albany. But a 67-65 defeat ended Mayza's career with the Hawks.

                A four-year starter, she exits the program with 1,222 points, tied for eighth overall on the all-time list second in assists (476) and fourth in 3-point goals (160). Mayza considered her primary job as facilitating her teammates and providing leadership. Head coach Kim McNeill described her as a coach on the floor. 

                "Deanna has the work ethic and passion for the game," McNeill said. "She also has the passion to win."

                According to the first-year coach, the player thrived in Hartford's fast-break, high-tempo offense. McNeill said Mayza was the ideal point guard for her system.

                "She likes to create for others," the coach said. 

                Mayza prefers to set up her teammates by finding a player with a better shot. But when she can't find a better option, she looks to drive to the basket and end up at the foul line.

                "This year I am using my pull up game a little more than in past years," she said on March 3, the day before the Hawks opened the conference playoffs in Portland, Maine.

                A pre-season all-conference selection, Mayza scored double-digit points in her initial six games. In conference play, she struggled from the floor. McNeill said opponents disrupted her perimeter shots with matchups against bigger guards.

                "The biggest thing for me is to keep shooting," said Mayza who finished the season averaging 12.9 points and five assists per game. "I've got to keep thinking the next shot is going to fall."

                In Hartford's playoff opener, Mayza rediscovered her shooting touch. She converted 8-of-13 shots from the field, including 5-of-9 3-pointers. Mayza contributed seven rebounds, six assists and four steals to help the team breeze to victory.

                On Saturday, her 3-pointer capped a 13-3 run to force a 58-58 tie for the Hawks with 5 minutes, 51 seconds remaining. However, they couldn't register the game-tying basket on their final two possessions down the stretch. The two-point loss will likely keep Mayza from post-season participation.

                "It's something I definitely wanted to experience," said the guard, an all-tournament selection.

                Mayza played one year for Upper Perkiomen, before completing her high school career at The Hill School in Pottstown.

                Mayza, a Communications major at Hartford who finished her career averaging 10.71 points in 114 games, aspires to play professionally in Europe or remain involved in the game as a coach.

                She and a classmate have been selected to participate in a three-day workshop, "So You Want to be a Coach," an annual class hosted by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association March 29-31 in Dallas. The workshop focuses on recruiting, the administrative side to coaching, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules and how to balance work and life.

                "I want to make sure the players I am coaching give me all their effort," Mayza said. "And I want to give them all of my knowledge."