Published: May 15, 2008 02:09 am            

Merinar leaving Lady Falcons

FAIRMONT — Fairmont State Lady Falcon guard/forward Jaimie Merinar will not return to the team for her junior season next year.

The Wheeling native and John Marshall High School graduate, however, does plan to remain enrolled at FSU and continue her college education there.

“I just don’t enjoy playing as much as I did before and I just wanted to end my basketball career having fun,” said Merinar. “I also wanted it to end with a good year. That about sums it up.”

The 5-11 sophomore started every game (61) the past two years for the Lady Falcons, who finished 25-7 overall this past season, won their first West Virginia Conference Tournament Championship in 24 years and made the program’s second trip in four seasons to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

“Anytime a player leaves your program it’s disappointing,” said veteran FSU head coach Steve McDonald. “We wish her the best in the future.”

Merinar, who is a natural small forward, played the majority of this past season at the point guard position for FSU out of necessity. She averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds. She led the team in minutes played (35), steals (56) and was second in blocked shots (22).

She was an honorable mention All-WVC selection this past season and was also named to the 10-member All-WVC Tournament Team. In addition, she received the George Springer Individual Sportsmanship Award at the annual league tournament.

As a freshman she averaged 10.9 points and 5.9 rebounds and was named to the league’s All-Freshman squad.

In two seasons Merinar, who is majoring in exercise science, scored 588 career points at Fairmont State, grabbed 321 rebounds, dished out 180 assists, recorded 96 steals and blocked 36 shots.

Because she was never redshirted coming out of high school if she does have a change of heart in the future and wishes to return to basketball she will have two years of eligibility remaining.

        

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