Temple University Athletics
Sophomore Meghan Roxas
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Roxas’ Life as a Sophomore
2.6.14 | Women's Basketball
GAMEDAY FEATURE STORY
by Cathy Bongiovi, Athletic Communications
Basketball has been in Meghan Roxas' blood for a long time. The oldest of Angie and Arnold Roxas' four daughters, she caught the sports bug early and has never looked back.
"I was probably seven. I started playing with my dad," she said. "Then I joined a league when I was in first grade. My dad is really into sports."
A four-time letterwinner at Ridgewood (N.J.) High School, Roxas earned first-team All-County, All-League, and All-Suburban honors as a senior. She scored 1,143 points in her prep career and became the first player from Ridgewood to sign at a Division I school since 1994.
During her senior season in 2011-12, the Maroons went 17-2, taking second place in the division and reaching the quarterfinals of the Bergen County tournament.
Roxas also played lacrosse in the spring. She earned two letters, and Ridgewood reached the state championships twice.
The defensive wing had to make a big decision—which sport would she play in college?
"My sophomore year I decided I couldn't play varsity lacrosse anymore, because the AAU commitment was too crazy," Roxas said. "I would not have been able to do both. So I chose basketball."
Named one of the best shooters by ESPN during the 2011 Summer Showcase, Roxas played AAU basketball for the New Jersey Elite. A tournament in Georgia became the catalyst that pointed Roxas towards Temple.
"Temple had seen me in the spring of my junior year," Roxas recalled. "There wasn't a lot of contact between us, then there was one game in Atlanta, Coach Cardoza saw me play. I was on my way back (home), walking through the Philadelphia airport, and she called me and offered me a scholarship. The call from Coach Cardoza was pretty cool. I thought that was really important, because coming from the head coach means a lot."
Living within driving distance to home in Ridgewood, N.J., was a plus, too.
"I like that it's close to home, because my dad gets to come to all the games," Roxas said. "On weekends in the fall and summer, I can go home."
Since moving to North Broad Street, Roxas has faced her share of adjustments—college life, time management, life in the city, and being a member of a Division I women's basketball team.
As a true freshman last season, Roxas was a part of the nation's second-youngest team. And for the first time in 10 seasons, the Owls did not have a winning record. There was no postseason play.
Roxas played in 30 games with 11 starts, appearing in the starting line-up for the final 10 games of the season. She was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for sporting better than a 3.0 grade-point average.
But it was a learning process.
"Experience. Little things," Roxas said she gained as a freshman. "A lot of defensive things I didn't really know how to do—hedging ball screens, trapping ball screens. I was taught it when I was younger, but I wasn't necessarily around people who were all on the same page about it. I might have learned it, but not in a team sense. That I struggled with last year, but I've come around a little bit. That and being disciplined. Going in the gym and shooting on your own."
This season, Roxas has also faced adversity. During the fall, her roommate and teammate May Dayan decided to leave school and return home to Israel.
'There were a lot of new people that really didn't get to know her very well," Roxas said. "But we older players were really close with her. That really was a bummer when she left. We had known it was coming for a while, so it wasn't as hard as it could have been. But it's still tough, because she was one of my closest friends on the team last year."
During winter break, Roxas has enjoyed having a dorm room to herself, but that will change when the new semester begins. In the meantime, Roxas has plenty to keep her busy on the court.
The 5-8 shooting guard has played in every game this season as sophomore. The Owls' best three-point shooter, Roxas nailed a career-high four three-point buckets in the win at Delaware. She finished with 12 points in 21 minutes of action, attempting a career-best 11 treys.
"Meghan brings a lot of energy coming off the bench. She's really a good three-point threat," said senior Shi-Heria Shipp. "She gives amazing before the game speeches. She's just a positive person in general."
Roxas credits maturity with the difference between her freshman and sophomore seasons.
"We're not so young anymore, yet I feel still just as young at times in a good way," she said. "They are really different years completely. I like that I'm not a freshman anymore, and I can speak up more, because I have experience. Last year I just sat back and took it all in. I was like. 'Is this how it's supposed to be?' You don't really know. But now I can stand up and be more of a leader."
Leadership was needed this season. The Owls' roster has just two seniors, and the team is playing its inaugural season in the highly competitive American Athletic Conference. But Roxas is more of a traditionalist.
"I like it. But I liked the Atlantic 10, too," Roxas said. "I like the whole 'new beginnings' thing and the 'It Begins' campaign; that's cool, but I thought the A-10 had more tradition. But I do like The American."
Rivalries will form with their new American opponents. But until then, Roxas can rely on the familiar opponents of the Philadelphia Big 5.
Halfway through the season, Roxas has goals she'd like the team to achieve.
"I'd like to make it to the (NCAA) Tournament this year," she said. "Because last year we didn't make it to anything, and it was disappointing. We were also very young and didn't know what was going on. But making it to the Tournament would be awesome. That would sum it all up. That would make all the workouts, the summer workouts, worth it."
With two more seasons yet to play, Roxas also has long-term goals on her list.
"Winning seasons the rest of my years, because I know we didn't have that last year," Roxas said. "Win the Big 5. That would be big. Go undefeated in the Big 5. Those are huge rivalries, and I can't stand losing to any of those teams. And then make it to the (NCAA) Tournament. I just want us to be successful."
While the business management major has plenty of time to decide her career path, she's studying hard on and off the court. The sophomore is a nominee for the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America team. She sports a 3.36 GPA.
DID YOU KNOW?
* Roxas is pronounced RO-hoss.
* Her last name is Filipino.
* Roxas has a blackbelt in karate.
* Roxas taught herself to play the guitar.
* Her sisters Bella, Catherine, and Caroline are also athletes.
by Cathy Bongiovi, Athletic Communications
Basketball has been in Meghan Roxas' blood for a long time. The oldest of Angie and Arnold Roxas' four daughters, she caught the sports bug early and has never looked back.
"I was probably seven. I started playing with my dad," she said. "Then I joined a league when I was in first grade. My dad is really into sports."
A four-time letterwinner at Ridgewood (N.J.) High School, Roxas earned first-team All-County, All-League, and All-Suburban honors as a senior. She scored 1,143 points in her prep career and became the first player from Ridgewood to sign at a Division I school since 1994.
During her senior season in 2011-12, the Maroons went 17-2, taking second place in the division and reaching the quarterfinals of the Bergen County tournament.
Roxas also played lacrosse in the spring. She earned two letters, and Ridgewood reached the state championships twice.
The defensive wing had to make a big decision—which sport would she play in college?
"My sophomore year I decided I couldn't play varsity lacrosse anymore, because the AAU commitment was too crazy," Roxas said. "I would not have been able to do both. So I chose basketball."
Named one of the best shooters by ESPN during the 2011 Summer Showcase, Roxas played AAU basketball for the New Jersey Elite. A tournament in Georgia became the catalyst that pointed Roxas towards Temple.
"Temple had seen me in the spring of my junior year," Roxas recalled. "There wasn't a lot of contact between us, then there was one game in Atlanta, Coach Cardoza saw me play. I was on my way back (home), walking through the Philadelphia airport, and she called me and offered me a scholarship. The call from Coach Cardoza was pretty cool. I thought that was really important, because coming from the head coach means a lot."
Living within driving distance to home in Ridgewood, N.J., was a plus, too.
"I like that it's close to home, because my dad gets to come to all the games," Roxas said. "On weekends in the fall and summer, I can go home."
Since moving to North Broad Street, Roxas has faced her share of adjustments—college life, time management, life in the city, and being a member of a Division I women's basketball team.
As a true freshman last season, Roxas was a part of the nation's second-youngest team. And for the first time in 10 seasons, the Owls did not have a winning record. There was no postseason play.
Roxas played in 30 games with 11 starts, appearing in the starting line-up for the final 10 games of the season. She was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for sporting better than a 3.0 grade-point average.
But it was a learning process.
"Experience. Little things," Roxas said she gained as a freshman. "A lot of defensive things I didn't really know how to do—hedging ball screens, trapping ball screens. I was taught it when I was younger, but I wasn't necessarily around people who were all on the same page about it. I might have learned it, but not in a team sense. That I struggled with last year, but I've come around a little bit. That and being disciplined. Going in the gym and shooting on your own."
This season, Roxas has also faced adversity. During the fall, her roommate and teammate May Dayan decided to leave school and return home to Israel.
'There were a lot of new people that really didn't get to know her very well," Roxas said. "But we older players were really close with her. That really was a bummer when she left. We had known it was coming for a while, so it wasn't as hard as it could have been. But it's still tough, because she was one of my closest friends on the team last year."
During winter break, Roxas has enjoyed having a dorm room to herself, but that will change when the new semester begins. In the meantime, Roxas has plenty to keep her busy on the court.
The 5-8 shooting guard has played in every game this season as sophomore. The Owls' best three-point shooter, Roxas nailed a career-high four three-point buckets in the win at Delaware. She finished with 12 points in 21 minutes of action, attempting a career-best 11 treys.
"Meghan brings a lot of energy coming off the bench. She's really a good three-point threat," said senior Shi-Heria Shipp. "She gives amazing before the game speeches. She's just a positive person in general."
Roxas credits maturity with the difference between her freshman and sophomore seasons.
"We're not so young anymore, yet I feel still just as young at times in a good way," she said. "They are really different years completely. I like that I'm not a freshman anymore, and I can speak up more, because I have experience. Last year I just sat back and took it all in. I was like. 'Is this how it's supposed to be?' You don't really know. But now I can stand up and be more of a leader."
Leadership was needed this season. The Owls' roster has just two seniors, and the team is playing its inaugural season in the highly competitive American Athletic Conference. But Roxas is more of a traditionalist.
"I like it. But I liked the Atlantic 10, too," Roxas said. "I like the whole 'new beginnings' thing and the 'It Begins' campaign; that's cool, but I thought the A-10 had more tradition. But I do like The American."
Rivalries will form with their new American opponents. But until then, Roxas can rely on the familiar opponents of the Philadelphia Big 5.
Halfway through the season, Roxas has goals she'd like the team to achieve.
"I'd like to make it to the (NCAA) Tournament this year," she said. "Because last year we didn't make it to anything, and it was disappointing. We were also very young and didn't know what was going on. But making it to the Tournament would be awesome. That would sum it all up. That would make all the workouts, the summer workouts, worth it."
With two more seasons yet to play, Roxas also has long-term goals on her list.
"Winning seasons the rest of my years, because I know we didn't have that last year," Roxas said. "Win the Big 5. That would be big. Go undefeated in the Big 5. Those are huge rivalries, and I can't stand losing to any of those teams. And then make it to the (NCAA) Tournament. I just want us to be successful."
While the business management major has plenty of time to decide her career path, she's studying hard on and off the court. The sophomore is a nominee for the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America team. She sports a 3.36 GPA.
DID YOU KNOW?
* Roxas is pronounced RO-hoss.
* Her last name is Filipino.
* Roxas has a blackbelt in karate.
* Roxas taught herself to play the guitar.
* Her sisters Bella, Catherine, and Caroline are also athletes.
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