Sophomore Lem Atanga McCormick nearly attended the Air Force Academy, and was recruited by Washington U., but chose Amherst. Amherst athletics photo

AMHERST, Mass. -- The  No. 1 ranked Amherst Lord Jeffs women's basketball team may not have the homecourt advantage they relish (they're 52-1 at home under G.P. Gromacki), but at least one player might have a few extra friends and family in the stands to provide a welcoming atmosphere.

Sophomore forward Lem Atanga McCormick, a native of Chicago (about two hours from Illinois Wesleyan), makes a "hometown" return as one of the key components on the nation's only unbeaten Division III team.

The 6-0 McCormick averaged 10.3 points and was just 7-for-25 from three-point range in her first 26 games of the season, much of that coming off the bench. In the last three NCAA Tournament games, she's averaged 15.0 points per game and gone 5-for-9 from three. Limited by foul trouble in the Sweet 16 matchup with Williams, McCormick made a pair of go-ahead three-pointers late, to help finish off the comeback from 15 points down. The second, with 2:30 remaining, put the Lord Jeffs ahead to stay.

When All-American teammate Jaci Daignault when down with an injury to her non-shooting hand in a Feb.9 game against Bridgewater State, McCormick provided immediate punch off the bench as Daignault's replacement, scoring the Lord Jeffs next 10 points. McCormick finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in 17 minutes in an 85-60 win. She entered the starting lineup the next game and has been a force on both the offensive and defensive ends in Amherst's most recent victories. In the quarterfinal win over Babson, McCormick paced five players in double figures with 15 points.

"She's  someone who wants to get better," said Gromacki. "She has a lot of talent and there are times when it really shows. She's a solid player and a very intelligent person."

McCormick is well-traveled. Her mother used to work for the United Nations, so she's lived in New York, Chicago, England, and West Africa. She's fluent in French and a pair of West African languages. This summer, she's hopeful of participating in a summer program in Madagascar. When it came to picking a college, McCormick came close to attending Air Force, and was recruited by none other than this weekend's opponent, Washington U., but ended up picking Amherst.

As a freshman, McCormick impressed with her shot-blocking ability, and her ability to score both inside and outside. She emerged in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 17 points in each of her first two tourney games. While most of her teammates struggled against a bigger, stronger Washington team in last year's semifinal loss, McCormick held her own, with eight points off the bench. 

"Getting a chance to play in the Final Four last year was very rewarding," McCormick said. "Now we know that we have to be mentally prepared and physically prepared to play. Wash U has some very strong players on the inside, but you can't guard just that one aspect of their game."

You can't do that with Amherst either. The Lord Jeffs can get you in a number of ways. They'll often go to deceptively strong 5-10 junior forward Sarah Leyman deep in the paint, but if that's not there, 5-3 sophomore point guard Shannon Fincuane can work the ball around to any of the other players (seven players scored at least seven points in the Babson win), or take the shot herself (she made three straight 3-pointers in the rally against Williams, after the Lord Jeffs shot 0-for-8 from three in the first half). 

A new dimension that Amherst has this season is two players -- NESCAC Player of the Year Caroline Stedman and Vermont transfer Jackie Renner, who can get steals and then create their own shot in transition.

McCormick tends to be the one that sneaks up on you on the offensive end, popping around to the outside after initially setting up in the post. She only had four points before making the two biggest shots of the night in the epic win against Williams.

"It's all about knowing when you need to make a shot," McCormick said. "When you make that shot, or get that stop, it's important, even if it may not seem like it at the time." 

Gromacki on Sunday compared McCormick to Pervis Ellison, who snuck up on people as a freshman and won a national championship, and most outstanding player honors at Louisville a couple of decades ago. Ellison's nickname "Never Nervous" could apply as well. McCormick seems to be pretty cool, calm and collected on the floor. The Lord Jeffs are hoping for another Ellison-like performance in Bloomington.

"She's saved her biggest moments for the biggest games," Gromacki said, "She's only going to get better and we definitely need her this weekend."