Newcomer Feature: Shannon Dufficy
10/10/2019 11:23:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dufficy finds a family-like connection while being far from home
In her first year at Mizzou, senior forward Shannon Dufficy is focusing on the contributions she can make to the team, even if it happens to be off the court this season. Dufficy transferred to Mizzou from Utah State, where she averaged 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in 2018-19. Dufficy also recorded the school record for most double-doubles in a single-season with 19 and ranked first all-time in single-season rebounds with 339. Due to the NCAA transfer rules, Dufficy will have to sit out this season, but she is focusing on working hard and making the transition to the SEC as smooth as possible.
"Where I came from, the Mountain West is a big jump compared to the SEC," Dufficy said. "So, I'm just seeing how they play, how much more physical it is, how much bigger the bodies are, and how much more I'm going to have to improve in the next year to be able to compete with that."
With her history of success, it's easy to believe that Dufficy will be successful here at Mizzou, but a new team, a new conference and new competitors can be a lot of change to adjust to. She plans on taking her redshirt year to grow as a player and a teammate. Even though she will not be on the court this season, her goal is to improve all aspects of her game.
"I have a whole year to sit out and train. I'll be developing skills on the court, and getting to know the girls off of the court so that we can have that connection the next year," Dufficy said.
She will certainly be a valuable part of this program for the next couple of years at Mizzou. Throughout the process of transferring and making the decision of where to take her talents for her remaining season, Dufficy said her parents were the ones who were always backing her.
They have always been my biggest supporters," Dufficy said. "In the end they let me make the decision, but wherever I choose they were always going to support the decision I made."
And while picking a new school and new basketball program might not always be an easy decision to make, Dufficy is excited to build her connection with the team and coaches as these are some of the things that drew her to this program in the first place. That connection with her team was essential in the recruiting process for Dufficy, as the Preston, Victoria (Australia) native is the only international player on the Mizzou roster. She wanted to feel comfortable in a place she looks to call home, and on her official visit, Dufficy felt a connection with head coach Robin Pingeton and the rest of the coaching staff, as well as the team-oriented atmosphere of the girls on the team.
"As soon as I started talking to the coaches, I just felt that instant connection, and then when I came on my visit you can feel the family environment here. They have been so welcoming since I've gotten here," Dufficy said. "It was just a combination of the connection and the family environment."
As Dufficy prepares to take on her senior season with the Mizzou Women's Basketball program next winter, she is certain to find success on the court that is a whole year in the making.
