Pirate Preview: Faith Masonius

Published: Tuesday, October 8, 2024

by Jackson Shank

In a flurry of offseason additions, head coach Tony Bozzella landed an incredibly impactful big who is dynamic on the court and a disciplined leader off it. Faith Masonius, a six-foot-one guard/forward from Belmar, New Jersey comes home for her final season of college basketball, and it could not be a more perfect fit for the Bozzella system.

After five seasons, two degrees, and multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament, including a trip to the Sweet 16, Masonius is looking to bring tournament-level talent and experience to a program that hopes to set a precedent of consistently reaching The Big Dance.

In her time in the red and white at the University of Maryland, Masonius appeared in 138 games averaging six points, over four rebounds, and two assists per game. Additionally, Masonius shot 50 percent from the floor in her Terrapin career. It should be noted that while she is listed as a guard/forward, she attempted just eight three-point field goals in her time at Maryland.

But knowing this, Bozzella has added a complementary big to the group of I’yanna Lops (Stamford, CT), Messiah Hunter (Hopewell, VA), Savannah Jones (Eden Prairie, MN), and Kaydan Lawson (Cleveland, OH) who can put the ball on the deck if needed to create opportunities in the lane. With Masonius’ skill set, look for her to be a true four amongst this talented, transfer-heavy Pirate offense.

Another vital asset of Masonius’ game is leadership. Coach Bozzella selected her as one of the team’s three captains, alongside sophomore Savannah Catalon (Burleson, TX) and fellow graduate student Amari Wright (Jacksonville, FL). This title comes shortly after Masonius’ decorated junior season at Maryland, where the Big Ten conference recognized her with their Outstanding Sportsmanship Award.

The award was given to just one athlete at the University of Maryland in 2023, and recognizes student-athletes who “have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting” (Big Ten). This award came after Masonius’ best season in Maryland, where in her final three games (Big Ten and NCAA Tournament) she averaged 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

A standout addition to the Pirate fold, Masonius looks to ride the wave of her great career in Maryland all the way to the end in South Orange. Look for this dynamic forward to make a name for herself on the hardwood inside Walsh Gymnasium.

Jackson Shank can be reached at jackson.shank@student.shu.edu. 

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