By Brendan Kurie, The Standard-Times (New Bedford)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For five games, Kailyn Aguiar and the Bridgewater State women's basketball team were unstoppable.
On Jan. 23, the Bears were 8-11, with a 2-3 mark in the MASCAC and had just lost by 21 to Framingham State. Senior post Kailyn Aguiar, a 5-foot-8 Acushnet native and Bishop Stang graduate, had recorded four double-doubles in 19 games and topped 12 points twice.
Then it began.
On Jan. 24 BSU beat Fitchburg State by six and Aguiar scored 18 points with 12 rebounds. Six days later, the Bears beat MCLA by 43 points behind 19 points and 12 boards from Aguiar. She didn't record a double-double in a win over Westfield State on Feb. 12, but she bounced right back with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Salem State and topped off the five-game run with 18 points and a season-high 16 rebounds as BSU beat that same Framingham State team by 19.
"We were really excited about that game," Aguiar said. "I think after the first few games of us winning we had a fire under our foot. We wanted to continue on going. It was just an eye-opening view of how talented we are as a team and how we can really do a lot of damage in the MASCAC."
The Bears' five-game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday night against MASCAC-leading Worcester State, with Aguiar contributing 13 points and seven rebounds, giving her four double-doubles and five games topping 13 points in her last six.
"I think we finally are figuring out our connection with each other," Aguiar said. "Our chemistry, we have great chemistry. I know we are going to continue going strong throughout the season and through the playoffs."
In the month of February, she is averaging 15.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, both season highs for any month, her previous bests being 12.1 points a game in January and 10.0 rebounds a game back in November.
For the season, she is averaging 10.6 points and 9.0 rebounds on 57.8 percent shooting in 23 games, all starts. Those numbers jump to 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 61.2 percent shooting in 10 MASCAC games. She is currently second in the conference in field goal percentage, first in offensive rebounds (102 total, 48 in league play) and third in total rebounds (208 total, 92 in league play).
When asked to explain her improved play recently, she has two reasons, one a mechanical improvement, the other a motivational factor.
On the court, she credits her increasing repertoire of post moves.
"I've definitely gotten comfortable with being down low," she said. "I owe that to the coaching staff and really helping us figure out positioning and all these different moves and techniques. I wouldn't be here without the coaches. It's me, mentally, figuring out I'm capable of doing what I've been doing."
But what may have Aguiar playing inspired basketball is her love for her grandmother, Susan Valencia, who died after the conclusion of the 2017-18 season after battling lung cancer.
Before every game, Aguiar holds her grandmother's obituary in her hand.
"I've dedicated this season to my grandmother," Aguiar said. "I have her in my mind and knowing that she's with me is a great feeling, especially when I start a game. I know she's there when I go on the court."
Aguiar and Valencia were extremely close after her grandfather died when Aguiar was 2.
"She was my best friend," she said. "I could talk to her about anything. She was always there giving me support, texting me before games to wish me luck, texting after games to say 'good job' if we lost.
"It's kind of weird not having that."
And while Aguiar enjoys reflecting on her grandmother, she spends much less time thinking about the impending conclusion of her collegiate basketball career. Aguiar started at Plymouth State, where she walked onto the team and played two seasons. She then transferred to BSU, where she was forced to try-out for a second collegiate team, and once again passed muster.
The Bears wrapped up their regular season on Saturday night against Fitchburg State and then begin play in the MASCAC Tournament, which the program hasn't won since 2014.
"All four of us seniors, we definitely want that title," she said. "We all are very excited about it. We know we're capable. But we have to focus on what's in front of us first."
Individually, Aguiar is wrapping things up in style, however. In the last two weeks she has been named the MASCAC Player of the Year and made the New England Women's Basketball Association Honor Roll.
"I'm so grateful," she said of the awards. "But when I play, I just play to play. I don't play to win awards or anything. I just play because I love the game. I wouldn't' be where I am today without my parents and friends and coaching staff and teammates."
Aguiar will finish up her degree in December and plans to walk in May of 2020 with a degree in Physical Education with a concentration in exercise science. She plans to become a trainer and open her own business.
"I think it's just from being athletic my whole life," she said. "I want to help other kids and young adults be athletic themselves and know the correct skills and techniques."