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Former BPC basketball standout shatters Icelandic hoops record

Monique Martin, former BPC women’s basketball standout, is now a basketball star in Iceland – thanks to a record-breaking performance Dec. 12. She scored 65 points in one game. She holds BPC’s record for most points scored in a game, 52. (Photos provided)

By Kelley M. Arnold

Director of News and Public Information

MOUNT VERNON— Former BPC women’s basketball all-star, Monique Martin, set an Icelandic basketball record Wednesday night (Dec. 12) when she scored 65 points in one game.  Her team, KR-ICELAND, beat KEFLAVIK to take over the number one seed in the league.  Coach Johannes Arnason, Monique’s coach, described her performance as “amazing”. 

KR-ICELAND coach, Joahnnes Arnason, speaks to Monique Martin during a game. (Photo provided.)

Arnason said in the first quarter of the game Monique had scored 25 of the team’s 27 points. Her game totals were 16-27 (59 percent) field, 7-10 (70 percent) 3-point, 12-13 (92 percent) FT, 11 rebounds, and three steals. KR won 90-81 to take over first place in the league.

In addition to this achievement, Monique was also selected as an Icelandic All-Star. The award is given to two American players and three Icelandic players. 

Monique attended BPC until last spring when she was drafted by the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. She holds the record for most points scored in a game for Brewton-Parker College as well. On Nov. 27, 2006, she scored 52 points in a win over Edward Waters College (84-82, OT), solidifying her position in the record books as the highest single game scorer – both male and female – in Brewton-Parker College history. She previously broke Sug Parker’s record by scoring 50 points in a win over Morris College Nov. 11. (Parker is currently the women’s basketball coach at BPC.)

Monique was also the nation’s leading scorer in Division I this past season for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), averaging 29.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.  She also averaged 1.7 assists and 3.7 steals. 

Former BPC women’s basketball coach and full-time BPC Education professor, Sheila Simmons, has stayed in contact with Monique, who called Simmons before her record-setting performance.

“I talked with Monique the night before the game, and she was relaxed and ready,” said Simmons. “She was concerned because their point guard was injured and she would have to play point. I encouraged her to stay focused and play hard. And she definitely did. Setting the scoring record against the number one team is truly amazing, and I am very proud of her. Her future is very bright at the professional level.”

Simmons said Monique, who was injured with an ankle problem during her season at BPC, was encouraged to rehab during the summer months by the WNBA. With their permission, she signed with the Icelandic team in late September. She will return to the WNBA after the Icelandic season ends, Simmons added.

Brewton-Parker College is the only accredited four-year Christian college in south Georgia.

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