Abreu Returns To Lady Sharks After COVID Travel Restrictions Kept Her In Brazil Last Year
Larissa Abreu is excited to be back on the basketball court at Miami Dade College.
The sophomore from Brazil, who averaged 8.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a freshman, missed last season due to COVID travel restrictions.
“Last year was hard for me,” Abreu said. “Now I can return this year and do the best for my team.”
The six-foot-five-inch center is making up for lost time. She leads the team in scoring (11.8 points per game) and is second in rebounding with 7.6 average.
Abreu had an impressive four-game stretch from Nov. 2 through Nov. 12. In that stretch, she averaged 16.7 points and nine rebounds including two double-doubles.
Her first double-double was a 17 point and 10 rebound performance versus Pensacola State College in a 95-54 loss on Nov. 6. On Nov. 12, she scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 76-68 win against Tallahassee Community College.
“She is a veteran player,” said Lady Sharks first-year interim head coach Erica Redman, who served as the team’s associate coach for the past 35 years. “[Larissa] brings leadership and is very positive with the team. [She is] willing to help at all costs.”
Abreu, who was born in Sao Luis, Brazil, started playing basketball at the age of 14. From 2014 to 2016, she played for the club team Beto Sport and spent 2017-18 with ADC Bradesco.
That experience helped her catch the attention of MDC coaches who received videos of her games in Brazil.
As a freshman, Abreu garnered All-Southern Conference Second Team honors on a Lady Sharks squad that was 22-9 and had an 11-1 record in conference.
This season, the Lady Sharks have struggled. They are 3-8 including losses in eight of their last 10 games after a 71-63 opening-season win at home versus Palm Beach State College on Nov. 1.
The games include a 54-point loss to Chipola College on Nov. 5 and 41-point loss to Pensacola State College on Nov. 6.
Abreu’s teammates say her leadership will be instrumental in getting the team back on track before conference play starts on Jan. 12 versus Hillsborough Community College.
“She is very important to our team,” said freshman guard Maria Dias. “We are still learning how to play with each other and I’m still learning how to play with her. I think with time we will get through this tough time.”
Redman is confident that will happen largely in part because of the team’s chemistry and Abreu’s positive attitude.
“They feed off of her energy,” Redman said. “They’re impactful because she is impactful and they respect her and they want to play well with her.”
