By: Donald Hunt
PHILADELPHIA – Amaris Baker can really put the ball in the basket. Baker, a 5-8 senior guard from Drexel University, not only leads the Dragons in scoring, but the Coastal Athletic Association as well. The former Cardinal O’Hara star is averaging 17.4 points a game. Although Baker has put together a brilliant season, she has done even more for her team.
Drexel University senior guard Amaris Baker #3 - Photo Courtesy of Drexel Athletics
“This year I’m in more of a leadership role being a senior and having experience from last year knowing the standard of Drexel women’s basketball,” Baker said. “So, this year has been different being the leading scorer. I’m coming in working hard and helping my teammates. They have confidence in me. I have confidence in them. Their success is my success because what they do that energy they have helps me.”
Drexel (16-10 overall, 12-4 league) are currently holding down the second-place spot in the CAA standings. A year ago, the Dragons won the conference title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Baker was named the Most Outstanding Player and selected to the all-tournament team. The CAA women’s basketball championship will take place at Care First Arena in Washington, D.C., from March 12-16. Baker hopes the Dragons finish the season with some momentum as they take a step-by-step approach to preparing for the tournament.
Amaris Baker (Cardinal O'Hara) playing against current Drexel teammate Grace O’Neil (Archbishop Carroll) during the 2020 PCL quarterfinals - PSD Photo by Mike Nance
“We’re playing pretty good basketball right now, but we haven’t played our best basketball yet,” Baker said. “We have the tournament coming up. We have a couple more conference games prior to the tournament. We’re going one day at a time. It will be one quarter at a time. It will eventually end up like one game. So, we’re taking one step at a time. We’re not looking too far ahead.”
It’s been another banner year for girls’ basketball in the Philadelphia Catholic League. The recent Catholic League playoffs and championship game has brought back some terrific memories for Baker.
“It’s a great time,” she said. “Of course, [teammates] Grace O’Neil [Archbishop Carroll], Deja Evans [Archbishop Wood] and I competed at Cardinal O’Hara. It’s very competitive. We played against each other in high school and we talked about who won and who lost. It’s really brought a great connection and bond with each other. We know what’s expected and we know what’s expected to win and having a system. We were learning from that and transferring that to college.”
That experience should serve Amaris Baker well during the conference tournament.