Although it’s been approximately a decade since Penn-Trafford girls basketball claimed WPIAL gold, the Warriors have continued to regularly produce strong teams and stellar players. Maura Suman was among the most prominent of those players, as she helped PT reach the playoffs in all four of her seasons in green and gold, and she set a program record in the process. Now, she’s thriving on the court at Edinboro University. Suman is under the spotlight in this edition of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

Suman made an instant impact with Penn-Trafford as a freshman in the 2018-19 campaign, as she played in all 23 contests, producing 6.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, while dishing out 72 assists and compiling 55 steals and 13 blocks. Collectively, the Warriors went 13-10 overall, including 9-5 in section play. PT qualified for the WPIAL Class 5A postseason, but fell to Trinity in the opening round.

The following year, Suman again participated in all 23 games. In that action, she registered 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and compiled 63 assists, 76 steals, and nine blocks. Penn-Trafford achieved a record of 15-8, including 8-6 in the section. Back in the WPIAL playoffs, the Warriors came up short against Gateway in the Class 5A first round.

In 2020-21, Suman played in all 17 games, during which she averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, adding 44 assists, 52 steals, and a dozen rejections. For her efforts, Suman was recognized as First-Team All-Section. That campaign, Penn-Trafford compiled a record of 10-7 overall, including 9-5 in the section. The Warriors reached the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs, but lost to Baldwin in the first round.

In Suman’s senior campaign, she played in all 22 tilts, producing averages of 11.2 points and 4.0 rebounds, while also notching 37 assists, 72 steals, and five blocks. Once again, Suman was honored with First-Team All-Section accolades. The Warriors went 12-10, including 9-5 once again in the section slate. Their season concluded with a loss to Upper St. Clair in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 6A postseason.

During her career at Penn-Trafford, Suman established a new school mark with 255 steals.

Following her graduation, Suman opted to continue her career on the hardwood at Edinboro University. As a freshman in 2022-23, the 5-foot-7 guard played in 22 contests, including one start. She posted averages of 4.1 points and 1.8 boards, while adding 30 assists, 16 steals, and five blocks. That season, the Fighting Scots went 17-12 overall, including 13-9 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). In the conference tournament, Edinboro ousted Seton Hill University, but fell to California University of Pennsylvania in the PSAC quarterfinals to conclude the season.

Last season, Suman played in 27 tilts, including 24 starts, averaging 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, along with amassing 69 assists and 31 steals. Collectively, Edinboro achieved a record of 17-12, including 14-8 in the PSAC. In the conference tournament, the Fighting Scots edged Mercyhurst University, but lost to Gannon University in the quarterfinals.

So far this campaign, Suman has appeared in all 12 games, including 10 starts. In those contests, she’s produced averages of 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds, while posting 33 assists and 16 steals. Edinboro has gone 10-2, including a perfect 6-0 in PSAC play.

Maura set aside time from her schedule to respond to questions about her team’s strong start this season, her fondest memory at Penn-Trafford, and who she’d choose as an opponent in a game of one-on-one.

Q: How have you evaluated your play thus far this season?

A: I am growing into a role of being a consistent point guard and commanding the floor. I am excited to build on this role as the season progresses. I take pride in my game on the defensive side, so I believe that is carrying my play this season, as well.

Q: You played off the bench as a freshman before primarily starting last season. What are the adjustments between those roles?

A: I think coming off the bench, you can come in the game to provide a spark, but taking on the role of being a starter, you set the tone of the game right from the jump.

Q: What has been your biggest area of growth during your career at Edinboro?

A: My biggest area of growth here at Edinboro has been my voice, both on and off the court. I feel that I am contributing to the leadership role more so than ever right now.

Q: What team and individual goals did you establish for this season?

A: As a team, our goal is to win the PSAC. It’s something we strive for every year, but I feel that our mentality coming into this season is to build off of every skillset that each player provides to our team. Personally, I am striving to fill a consistent role as the floor general.

Q: What has been key to the strong start for the Fighting Scots this year?

A: We have been very successful to start off the season due to our focus this year. I feel that returning a lot of veteran players and grabbing some big transfers builds our confidence, and we know the athleticism and greatness that this team has. We have learned that our best quality is to stay hungry, as we don’t want to be playing our best basketball right now; rather, we are hoping to peak just in time for playoff basketball.

Q: What led to your decision to attend Edinboro?

A: The community feeling of Edinboro grabbed my attention from the jump, along with the family atmosphere in the basketball program here. I am grateful to have met people who will be part of my life forever.

Q: What is your major, and ideal future profession?

A: I am a nursing major with hopes of going into pediatric nursing.

Q: What has been your favorite college course?

A: I would have to say my nursing clinicals at Edinboro have been my favorite courses due to the hands-on learning that it consists of. We get a realistic look at the hospital setting for the medical profession.

Q: You played under veteran coach John Giannikas at Penn-Trafford. What are his best qualities?

A: Coach Giannikas is a great person all around. I think you could ask anyone, and they would say the same thing. He brings energy and passion to the game, and his want for success was contagious during my high school days. To this day, he will still reach out to me to check in, which I believe says a lot about his character.

Q: What was your fondest high school memory?

A: My greatest high school memory was hitting the game winning shot against Norwin on our home court after a hard-fought battle.

Q: Do you still follow PT athletics or WPIAL basketball?

A: I try to keep up with the girls basketball team as much as I can. To see the success of old teammates and old coaches is always cool.

Q: If you could play anyone, past or present, in a game of one-on-one, who would you choose? What would be the score in a game to 11?

A: If I could play anyone past or present in a game of one-on-one, I would choose my mother in her prime. I have been living in her shadows for all these years now, so it would be my chance to prove her biggest fans wrong lol. There is no doubt that I am taking the win with a close score of 11-9.

Q: What artists or types of music get you ready before a game?

A: My go-to music before games is either Christian or country music.

Q: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: One meal for the rest of my life would probably be Chicken Romano with a side of risotto or tacos.

Q: What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received?

A: The best Christmas gift I ever received was probably my Apple Watch.