Laura Scordino Operates Both On and Off the Court

Ever since she was a little girl, people have remarked that Laura Scordino possessed the skills of a surgeon on the basketball court.

When she finally hangs up her sneakers as the end of the Mountaineer basketball season, Scordino will move from slicing and cutting up opponents to healing patients.

One of the top point guards in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference this season, Scordino has already been accepted into medical school at the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse this August where she will begin her quest to become a surgeon.

If her ability on the basketball court transfers to her skills as a surgeon you can expect a waiting list to get on her table. She's that good.

"I'd let her operate on me any day," said Mountaineer head coach Ruth Hermansen. "I've never meet anyone with such composure, who takes such responsibility with such skill as Laura. She just instills a sense of confidence in you."

Scordino installed enough confidence in the coaching staff at Binghamton University to make her part of the Bobcats first ever NCAA Division I recruiting class. As a local high school star where she was a three-time All-State selection, her decision to stay at home work out well for both Binghamton and Scordino. She enjoyed three seasons as a scholarship player while excelling so much in the classroom she was able to graduate in three years.

Scordino had already accomplished more than most in her life. She had been a three-time All-State selection at Vestal High School, a scholarship Division I player and graduated a year early from Binghamton with a 3.90 in environmental molecular biology.

But before she dedicated herself to years or grueling study, internships and residency, she wanted one last fling with the love of her life. She wanted one more year of basketball.

Scordino carefully surveyed all the Division II schools within a three-hour drive of home. Her criteria was a promising basketball program with academic classes that would transfer to medical school.

"I knew I was going to graduate early and started to look at Division II programs before the end of last season," explains Scordino. "I looked at 15 or 16 different schools, but Mansfield just seemed to be the best fit for my basketball ambitions while at the same time providing the level of classes I would need to prepare for medical school."

If Mansfield had what Scordino was looking for, Scordino had the skills and talent coach Hermansen was seeking to help the Mountaineers earn a PSAC playoff berth.

None of Scordino's attributes were more appreciated than her composure. She doesn't rattle easily and rarely makes the same mistake twice.

In 17 games this season, Scordino ranks among the conference and national leaders in categories that require poise. She is first in the PSAC East, and 31st in the nation in assists averaging 4.94 per game. Even more telling, her assists to turnover is the fourth lowest in the PSAC averaging 1.56 more assists then turnover per game.

Although not something that was counted on at the start of the season, Scordino's scoring and shooting ability have been a pleasant surprise. She is averaging 10.7 points per game while ranking among the top 3-point shooters in the conference.

Most importantly, it's Scordino performance under pressure that sets her apart. The 9th best free throw shooter in the PSAC, she showed her steely nerve in a key win over Bloomsburg last week.

Bloomsburg came into the game owning a 37-game win streak against the Mountaineers, but Mansfield held a slim lead late in the game. Over the final 1:28 of the game, Scordino hit all six straight free throws to preserve a 72-65 win, the first over Bloomsburg since 1985.

She followed up that performance with a season high 19 points against Kutztown, including hitting a layup with one second remaining, to send the game into overtime.

As the season winds down and the Mountaineers are in the thick of playoff run, so is Scordino's final fling with basketball. She is savoring every moment and has high expectations of extending the relationship by helping her team to the playoffs.

"I've really enjoyed my experience here," said Scordino. "Mansfield's given me the opportunity I was looking for. I confident we're going to make the playoffs and that would be something very special to me and my teammates."