When lacing up her sneakers, Kierstin Constantino did not know it would be a game unlike any other before.
It was Jan. 19, the Las Positas women’s basketball team was set to take on Cabrillo College. For Constantino, it was the game of a lifetime. In a stunning 100-54 victory over Cabrillo, Constantino scored 52 points.
Not only did she shatter her previous career high of 43 points in a game but also she surpassed the previous scoring record of 50 points set by Carlie Bonderer in February 2013. Constantino put up impressive numbers throughout preseason play, scoring double-digits in many outings. This included her previous career high of 43 points set on Nov. 7 versus Cosumnes River.
“When I hit the first couple of shots, I felt like I could keep going,” Constantino said.
But Constantino was not done yet.
In the same game, she broke another school record. Constantino made her 108th three-point shot of the season, 15 of those coming in that game as well. Breaking previous the record of 107, held by Cayla Nava during the 2015-2016 season. Not only is Constantino breaking records, she is leading the nation in three-pointers in every level of collegiate play.
“Records are meant to be broken and I think Kierstin has done a great job of leaving a legacy here,” Coach Caleb Theodore said.
Constantino narrowly missed setting two other records for three-pointers. She was one basket from a state record and two from setting a national record for three-pointers in a single game.
Constantino owes her performance to her training schedule. Every day she has taken 500 field goal attempts, something she completes in about two hours. Theodore has also drilled Constantino, timing her attempts to make 35 field goals, helping improve her accuracy and shot percentage.
Her breakout season also comes after questioning her future playing basketball. In her freshman year Constantino played for Wenatchee Valley College in Washington state, where she averaged just 18.5 minutes per game and a low 3.9 points per game average. Even though it helped develop her as a player, Wenatchee Valley wasn’t the best fit for Constantino.
At the beginning of her sophomore year, Constantino was looking for somewhere she fit in. Being a Central California native with roots in the East Bay, she looked at Las Positas. Theodore had previously reached out to Constantino during her senior year in high school in attempts to recruit her to play for Las Positas.
A social media post led Constantino to reach out to Theodore once again. Since joining the program, Constantino has been experiencing a breakout year, averaging 39.8 minutes per game and second in the state with 26.8 points per game. She also leads the North Coast Conference in points per game.
“It was like I was meant to be here,” Constantino said.
Constantino is currently in her sophomore year at Las Positas. With the season Constantino is having, she has garnered a lot of attention from four-year schools.
“It feels great. Knowing that people are actually looking at my game,” Constantino said.
This is a far cry from the previous season, in which she was mostly overlooked. Constantino is hopeful that after her breakout season, she can move forward in her career. She is not concerned about where she may finish her college career, but that it remains competitive and a great environment for her.
Justin Gomes is the Editor-in-Chief of The Express. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @JLGPHOTOG.
