Kelby Chichester
Mount St. Mary’s senior Jo Raflo was named Player of the Week after delivering standout performances in the team’s victories over Siena and Manhattan.
A key player for the Mountaineers, Raflo currently ranks sixth in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game this season. Against conference opponents, she has been even more impressive, increasing her average to 18.6 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.5 boards per contest.
As she enters the final stretch of her college career, the Gainesville, Virginia native continues to make her mark in her senior season, determined to help lead the Mountaineers to success in her last year at The Mount.
As the Mount continues its strong push in the MAAC, Raflo was able to speak on her recognition of their exciting moment. While she typically prioritizes team success over individual accolades, earning Player of the Week had been a personal goal of hers. “Yeah, it was really exciting for me. um I usually try not prioritize, like individual awards and stuff like that, but um seeing that success kind of was like, all right, like, like my team is gaining some traction in the conference, like they're noticing us., so it made me really feel really good about, like, our performances lately. but yeah, it was a little bit of like an individual goal of mine to get Player of the week at least once, so it felt pretty good.”
More importantly, she saw it as a sign that the Mountaineers were gaining momentum in the conference. “Seeing that success kind of made me feel like, alright, people are noticing us,” she said.
With an average of 15.7 points per game this season 18.6 in conference play, Raflo has developed into one of the MAAC’s top scorers. She credits her growth to focusing on areas of her game that needed improvement each year. This season, she spent significant time working with assistant coach Riley to develop post moves, an area she hadn’t utilized much as a guard. That added versatility, along with continued shooting reps, has helped her become a more dynamic scorer.
As the season nears its end, so does Raflo’s time at Mount St. Mary’s. The reality of playing her final games is something she’s trying to savor. “Yeah, I'm trying to soak it all in and cherish it. this has been such a great experience for me, and obviously, I don't want it to end ever,” she said. “I’ve loved playing for the Mount and playing with this team, and I want to go out on a high note.”
Reflecting on her journey, Raflo recalled some of her favorite moments, including the Mountaineers’ overtime victory against the conference’s top-seeded team earlier this season. “That was a huge win for us,” she said. “ It was like an all around team win. um we really shocked them overtime, so it was really exciting to get that win.”
However, one of her most cherished memories was her decision to commit to Mount St. Mary’s, a move that changed the course of her college basketball career. “That was so exciting for me just because of the experience I had my freshman year not being here.” She said, “Coming here my sophomore year and committing here was um just amazing for me and playing for Twan. Ever since high school, I always wanted to play for him, so that was like a huge moment for me.”
When asked how she hopes to be remembered, Raflo emphasized the importance of her character over her on-court performance. “Obviously, how I play matters, but I want to be remembered as a great person first, someone who was a good leader, a good teammate, and a good friend,” she said. “I like being able to make someone's day better, and that's how I want them to remember me, so every day I go out there and just try to be the best teammate and, um, player to them that I can be.”
Looking ahead, Raflo has no plans to step away from basketball. She is currently exploring opportunities to play professionally after graduation and, further down the line, hopes to transition into sports broadcasting. “I always want to be around the sport forever,” she said. “I’m very passionate about sports media and communication, so I’ll be really excited to delve into that when basketball is over.”
Her time at Mount St. Mary’s has taught her valuable lessons, both on and off the court. She’s learned that a place is defined by the people in it, and for her, the relationships she’s built have made all the difference. “The Mount isn’t a gigantic school, but the people here make it special,” she said. “Being a student-athlete has been challenging at times, but it’s given me a community and an experience I’ll always cherish.”
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