Jayden Marable providing spark off bench for NIU women

For the first six games of the season, Jayden Marable had played all of 10 total minutes.

But in the last two games against Michigan State and Western Michigan, Marable has seen more and more playing time and is averaging more than 10 points per game, peaking with 14 points in 13 minutes against the Broncos on Saturday.

She put up seven points in 12 minutes the game before at Michigan State.

“I just wanted to play my game and stick to what I know in my role,” Marable said. “I feel like my role is working out pretty well for me off the bench and providing energy on defense and offense.”

Head coach Lisa Carlsen said Marable’s main role is in spelling point guard Chelby Koker, who leads the team with 20.3 points per game while playing 30 minutes a contest.

But late against the Broncos – a 73-56 win for the Huskies (3-5, 1-2), their first in the MAC – Coker and Marable were on the court at the same time.

“I think part of it is, and Jayden mentioned this, she can create some things off the ball screen and get to the paint either for herself or finding teammates,” Carlsen said. “It’s different but in some ways is like what Chelby does. We need someone who can create a mismatch off the ball screen, and I think that’s a real asset for Jayden.”

The freshman from Bolingbrook set a career-high in virtually every category on Saturday against the Broncos. She made her first four shots and was 5 for 7 from the floor, making both 3-pointers.

In high school, she was a four-year letterwinner with the Raiders, helping the team take third last year in the IHSA Class 4A Girls Basketball tournament.

Marable played two minutes in the home opener against IUPUI and eight minutes against Ohio. Her first bucket came against the Bobcats.

She said she appreciated the time on the bench earlier in the season, helping her get up to speed.

“It has been an adjustment,” Marable said. “Just sitting back and watching how the college game is played. It’s a little faster, and with that time sitting on the bench I was able to reflect on what I need to do and my role for the team.”

Carlsen said she’s not sure what the future holds for Marable’s minutes as the season wears on. The coach said she feels she can go 10 players deep, and there are 10 players on the team averaging at least 8.8 minutes a game, and Marable is the only one of that group to have been healthy and not played in all eight games so far this year.

But Carlsen also said anyone producing will see the court, and Marable has been producing.

“She continues to grow,” Carlsen said. “She’s a smart player so she knows she has to get better. But offensively right now is where you see her confidence, her ability to push the basketball and be aggressive. She’s aggressive off the ball screen, getting to the rim and/or finding her teammates.”

Marable said it’s important for a player to know their role on the team, and she knows what hers is.

“I think I should just stay aggressive and play my game and do my role the best I can,” Marable said. “That was my mindset coming in these last few games.”

Carlsen said Marable has been playing with a lot of confidence, and wants to see that translate over to the defensive end for her.

“Defense can be the same way. You have to have some confidence you are going to be in the right place at the right time,” Carlsen said. “So we’ll continue to see her grow in that area as well.”

The coach said Marable has the potential to do some big things with the Huskies.

“She’s playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Carlsen said. “If we can get her engaged on the defensive end and get her to understand what we are trying to do on that end, she has the chance to have a really special career here.”