After a fine career at New Jersey perennial parochial power Paramus Catholic, Elisha Cross had a few offers to play NCAA Division II basketball.
But Cross’ college plans were certainly swayed when she received her acceptance letter from the Rutgers-Newark School of Business.
“I got accepted by all the schools I applied to,” Cross said. “I had a good GPA (grade point average) in high school.”
So essentially, before the coaching staff at Rutgers-Newark caught wind of Cross’ talents, she was already accepted to the school.
“Coach Abby (former R-N assistant coach Iannotti) saw me play and told me that I should make sure I apply,” Cross said. “I told her that I was already accepted. I went to visit the school the next weekend and I really liked it.”
It didn’t take long for Cross to fit right in with coach Ashley Cieplicki’s program. In fact, the diminutive point guard was such a good fit that she became a starter right away for the Scarlet Raiders.
“She came in and just went out there and played,” Cieplicki said. “I really feel she could be a better player in college than she was in high school.”
Cross exploded onto the scene at R-N, scoring 26 points in just her second game, an overtime win over Purchase College of New York.
Cross started 27 of 29 games for the Scarlet Raiders as a freshman, helping the Scarlet Raiders win the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament championship for the very first time, earning a berth in the NCAA Division III tourney in the process.
Cross averaged six points, almost four rebounds and three assists per game for the NJAC champs.
“I thought I wasn’t going to start right away,” Cross said. “But Coach Ashley started me right away and that really boosted my confidence. I was able to do well right away. I was shocked that I was playing, never mind starting. But I sort of got used to it. It definitely helped me to play. I think it helped me adapt.
Added Cross, “It was shocking that we won right away, but it was pretty cool. I got to play a big part in getting a championship ring. You usually don’t get a chance to do that as a freshman.”
Last May, after the season was over, Cross had surgery to correct compartment syndrome, a painful condition where pressure builds up in the legs. It can also affect the arms, the abdomen and rib cage, but Cross suffered from it in her legs.
“I had the surgery in both legs, so I really couldn’t do much in the summer,” Cross said. “I got cleared to play again in September.”
So as Cross began her sophomore season, there were no questions. She was a player of impact.
“At the beginning of this year, she played really well and became more of a leader,” Cieplicki said. “She started directing the team and was getting the ball to the right people. I think we see eye-to-eye a lot. We’re on the same page, so that helps. I know what to expect of her now.”
One of the improvements to Cross’ game has been her shot development.
“At times last year, she’d come in and hit some 3s,” Cieplicki said. “In one game, she hit four 3s, so I knew she could make them.”
“I was still trying to adapt to my role as being a scorer,” Cross said.
“She was just a little out of shape, but she started hitting shots and running pretty well,” Cieplicki said. “She knows more now. She’s a smart player. She’s grown a lot since last year.”
Cross is averaging 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and two assists per game.
“In high school, I really wasn’t much of a scorer,” Cross said. “But now I’m beginning to like it.”
Cross has reached double figures in three games, with a high of 15 coming against Wesleyan of Connecticut in November.
“I like being a scorer,” Cross said. “I think I can handle the role.”
Cross has been a fun-loving addition to the program.
“She’s a lot of fun,” Cieplicki said. “There’s definitely a connection between us. She’s a funny, funny kid. She calls me ‘Mom’ all the time. I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh. I don’t think I’m ready for that title yet.”
As a player, Cieplicki feels Cross is just coming into her own.
“She’s still only a sophomore, so she’s going to make mistakes,” Cieplicki said. “But she’s always willing to work. She wants to come in and shoot on her days off. That’s that kind of kid she is. She wants to improve all the time.”
Cross is majoring in finance at R-N. She doesn’t know what she wants to do after college is done, but she still has three years left to make that decision.
If there’s one thing that hasn’t gone well this season, it’s the win-loss record.
“It’s been tough,” Cross said. “I never lost before in my life. I have no doubt that we’ll bounce back and change things. We can show people who we can really be. If we keep working hard and keep going, we’ll be alright.”
If the Scarlet Raiders are going in the right direction, chances are that Elisha Cross is leading the way.
