Next shot: Breen hopes to break 100 3-point shots on the season
Next shot.
Whether it's on the basketball court or in the classroom, Cassie Breen lives by these two words.
Finishing third in the Mid-American Conference last year with her .402 3-point field goal percentage, the 5'10 junior guard said she is always looking ahead to her next goal.
"You can't dwell on the past," she said. "In life, it's always that next shot and that next opportunity that you have to look forward to. 'Next shot' is definitely something I say and live by both on and off the court."
Breen is Central Michigan's leading 3-point shooter with a career high of 92 3-pointers in the 2015-16 season, placing her second in program history and 15th in the country.
Those 92 3-pointers are eight shy of what Breen hopes to accomplish this season.
"My goal is to hopefully break Niki Diguilio's 100 threes in a season," she said. "My overall goal is to break her overall 3-point shooting, but also to get a ring and get as far as we can in the NCAA Tournament."
With 10 games played so far this season, Breen ranks second on the team in scoring with 143 points — just two points behind senior forward Jewel Cotton's 145. Breen leads the Chippewas in 3-pointers made with 32 so far this season.
Beyond the court
With a double-major in psychology and sports management, Breen not only excels on the court, but also in the classroom. While spending extra hours in the gym working on her 3-point shots, she maintains a 3.62 GPA.
The Woodhaven native hopes to play overseas after closing her college career.
"Anywhere I can go to travel and see the world would be my ultimate goal," Breen said. "I want to use my basketball career to do that. I've worked my butt off through the years and this is where its got me so far and I would love to take that one step further."
Head coach Sue Guevara said she could see Breen as a Division I basketball coach in the future.
"I have high expectations for her and I think she accepts that," Guevara said of Breen. "She wants to be coached and she always wants to do the right thing. You can't ask for much more than that in a player, but she's also a good student. I'm very hard on her because I see so much potential through her in all aspects."
The heart of the team
Guevara described Breen as someone who "gives 100 percent, 100 percent of the time."
Breen is looked up to as a leader on the court because she takes charge and encourages her teammates, Guevara said.
"Players like that aren't made in the gym during practice," Guevara said of Breen. "Players like that are made in the off-season by dedication and repetition. That's what (Breen) has continued to do all three years that she has been here. She'll go to bat for you, she'll do everything she can for you. People know they can count on her."
During her freshman year, Breen totaled 145 points on the season. Last year, she nearly tripled that number with 402 total points.
Junior guard Aleah Swary, who has played with Breen since both of their freshman years, said her teammate has spent countless hours in the gym working on her shooting to improve a significant amount each season.
"I don't think (Breen) knew her freshman year what her potential was," Swary said. "She's the heart of our team, so when she's on the floor everyone knows what we're in. She's the first person we hear on the floor, on a tip ball and in a timeout. She's been wanting to leave her mark here at Central, and there's no doubt in my mind that she will."
