Caldwell College Is A Home Away From Home For Leedham

December 16, 2009 by Greg Lederer

Caldwell College (New Jersey) junior guard Kirsty Leedham doesn’t have a problem scoring the basketball. Leedham exploded for 43 points during an 88-66 victory at Post University last season. Four ago as a Cheshire Academy senior, the Ellesmere Port, England native broke the record for single-season points. However, Leedham has worked hard to improve all facets of her game and takes pride in playing within the team concept.
“The fact we get along so well,” said Leedham, when asked about the strength of the Caldwell program. “If we can apply that onto the court, we will be one heck of a team. We don’t give up easily. If we are down at halftime, we can always come back and pick each other up.”
That attitude is being tested this winter. The girls were ecstatic about winning three of their first four games, but a current three-game skid dropped them to 0-2 in the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference. Caldwell hasn’t deterred from their goals of winning the CAAC and Eastern Connecticut Athletic Conference tournaments, earning a NCAA berth.
“It was a shock because we beat two really big teams that we didn’t expect to beat. Then we lost two conference games that we could have won,” Leedham explained.
Leedham has contributed as the top scorer (116 points; 16.1 per game), to go with 15 steals, 18 rebounds, and 56 three-pointers. She also excels at the foul line (23 of 26; .885 percentage).
“She is a great kid off the court and I’ve seen her mature over the last three years. I have a great relationship with her parents and family,” said Caldwell Head Coach Linda Cimino. “Her biggest strength is that she is a offensive threat. She has a great three-point shot and can get to the basket easily.”
Perseverance was key to the team’s quick start against competition from the Northeast-10 Conference. The Cougars opened with a 57-50 upset at ninth-ranked Stonehill College on Nov. 15. After falling to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell on Nov. 21, they returned the next day to outlast Bentley College 72-70 in overtime.
“It did bring a lot of confidence. It felt like we just won a championship,” described Leedham. “We went in with the mentality of having nothing to lose.”
She took the over game against Bentley, scoring 27 points during the second half and overtime. Leedham made all 11 free throws and was named the CAAC Player of the Week.
“I didn’t even realize,” said Leedham, of not missing a foul shot. “The only reason we won that game was because it was a team effort.”
“It’s huge,” added Cimino. “She scored three points in the first half and then added the next eight points of the second half. Her sisters came out for the second half and she turned it on. It was just a big win for our program.”
Older sisters, Jen and Johannah Leedham, are strong basketball players as well. They chose to leave England for Cheshire Academy together and sparked a record-setting season. The Wildcats went undefeated (32-0) for the first time and won the 2005 New England Prep School Coaches Association Championship.
Jen and Johannah made more history at Franklin Pierce College (Rindge, New Hampshire), reaching the Division III Final last winter. Jen (2009 graduate) captained the team at point guard. Johannah, a senior captain this season, has over 20 school records and was even awarded Division II Player of the Year nationally.
“I’ve seen them six times this year, which is more than usual. I’m actually going home at Christmas for the first time since 2005,” said Kirsty Leedham, who started playing basketball at age 11. “I have a great relationship with my coach. You can rely on teammates and coaches for anything. It’s great having a bunch of sisters around you all the time.”
Her family will have the opportunity to watch her play on national television next year. CBS College Sports Network has chosen to broadcast the Feb. 27 home game against CAAC rival Bloomfield College, at 12 p.m. It will be the first national telecast for Caldwell athletics.
“It highlights the team, facility, school, and conference. I hope it isn’t that much hype for the girls,” Cimino stated. “Anytime you get on national television, it allows the audience to see your program. It feels good that the conference has confidence that it will be a good game.”
Bloomfield won the first meeting (59-50) on Dec. 8. Caldwell led throughout the game, but found it tough to score down the stretch. Cimino hopes to use the experience as a learning tool.
“I think we are a more balanced team than we’ve been in the past,” said Cimino. “We’ve definitely added offensive threats. I think the chemistry is good this year. We have a common goal and everybody is coming together as a team.”