Loyola women’s basketball sophomore Lex Therien recently chatted with PressBox about the family tradition being built at Loyola, learning from her NHL father and more. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 12.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game for the Greyhounds last year.
Therien’s sisters Ava and Isabella are connected to the program as well. Ava is a senior forward for Loyola, while Isabella was a forward for the Greyhounds from 2017-2021. Their father, Chris, was a defenseman in the NHL from 1994-2006, mostly with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Lex Therien is a native of Marlton, N.J., and graduate of Cherokee High School.
PressBox: How did you become interested in basketball?
Lex Therien: This story is actually pretty interesting. Not many people know it if they were to watch me play, but I originally was a lacrosse player. I had such a passion for the sport of lacrosse. I really thought that I was going to go play college lacrosse, but my height was always one thing that was looked upon as, “Oh, she could be a basketball player with that height.” My dad is very competitive, loves the sport of basketball. He was always opposed to me playing lacrosse. One night he sat down with me and he said, “OK Lex, you’re getting into high school now. You can’t play two sports. You have to choose which one.”
Right then and there I’m like, “I’m going to play lacrosse. That’s it. I want to play. I’ve made up my mind.” He goes, “OK, well, I’ll let you sleep on it and you can tell me in the morning what you want to do.” I couldn’t even wake up the next morning. He woke me up and he says, “You’re playing basketball.” My heart kind of sunk because I wanted to play lacrosse, but I couldn’t be more grateful for him making that decision for me because I’ve loved every second of it and it’s brought me to places and allowed me to meet people that I probably would’ve never met. It’s a pretty cool story, but I can thank my dad for getting me into basketball.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
LT: I would say my oldest sister, Isabella. She played at Loyola. She kind of paved the way for me and my other sister, Ava, who also plays here at Loyola. She just really taught me a lot about the game mentally and physically — how to maintain a great mindset and just physically how to be the best you can be in college. I would have to say my oldest sister was my biggest influence.
PB: How did your dad, given his background, help all three of you athletically?
LT: Having a father that had such a great career professionally — the highest you can go — it’s definitely great and it’s awesome to share, but it’s also a lot of pressure. You try to live up to his expectations. Sometimes you won’t, sometimes you will. When you do, you feel great about yourself, but when you don’t, you’re kind of bummed. But just overall, he’s been such a great role model for me and my siblings. He just has that competitive edge to him that rubs off on all of us. I believe that he is a very large reason as to why me and my sisters made it to where we are today and how our games have progressed so much because he’s just been a constant person in our life that just pushes us to be our best. It would be a different outcome for me and my siblings if my father wasn’t the way he was with us.
PB: When did your game reach a point where you could be recruited by colleges?
LT: I started really focusing on basketball my freshman year [of high school]. I had just picked it up, so I was a novice. I didn’t really know much about the game. I had the height, so that really set me apart from a lot of the other girls. I come from a really athletic family. My mom is very athletic. My dad played a professional sport, so he’s very athletic. So I just took it day by day. … My coach saw some potential in me, so I started varsity my freshman year. I wasn’t the best, then that summer I took my game to the next level. I was in the gym training. I was shooting. I had people helping me. I would say that summer going into my sophomore year was really a game-changer for me, and then once that [AAU] season came around, I picked up my first offer. From there, it set the pace for my game.
PB: How did you and your sisters all end up at Loyola?
LT: My oldest sister was getting heavily recruited. Some of the offers fell through and she ended up at Loyola, but I can say that it’s crazy how things work out because originally I was committed to Boston University to go play basketball. There was a coaching change, and I just decided to switch up last minute. I called [Loyola head coach Danielle O’Banion] after I decommitted. I asked her if she would have a spot for me and she said, “Yeah, of course, we’ll take you.” It wasn’t supposed to end up like this, but God works in mysterious ways and I believe that it was all meant to be. I’m just fortunate enough to play with my one sister now. It’s all worked out for the best.
PB: What’s your favorite memory so far at Loyola?
LT: I would say my favorite memory is probably our first Patriot League win [last season]. It was just a great experience. Last year, I was a freshman so the girls [were] coming off of a pretty rough season the year before. Just getting that first win was such a great experience for me and the girls and also for the coaching staff. I have a fond memory of that specific game.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Loyola?
LT: I would say the people. Everyone on campus is so kind. There are so many great resources that we have as student-athletes. Just the time of day that everyone gives you on campus, it’s not a huge school but it’s really fun to be around people who love where they are and love what they do.
PB: What teammate did you look up to as a freshman last year?
LT: I would say someone that I probably looked up to would be Taleah Dixon. She’s coming off of two torn ACLs. She works so hard. She’s so inspiring. After you tear one, you’re deflated, but after you tear two, it could define if you want to play or not anymore. And you know what? She’s done some really great things. She’s back playing. She’s a fifth-year student here. Before I came here, I really looked up to her. She just has such a great vision of the court and is such a versatile player, so it’s really great to play with someone like her.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players?
LT: Just work hard, set yourself goals that you want to achieve even if they’re goals that you may not reach until you get older. Just kind of have a vision of what you want to do and keep your foot on the gas. Don’t give up. Hardships are going to come and go. Days are going to be tough, they’re going to be long, they’re going to be tiring, but as long as you wake up the next day ready to do the same thing you’ll be successful.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
LT: I want to hopefully maybe play overseas for a year. That includes basketball, a couple years maybe. And then I want to go to law school and pursue becoming a lawyer. It’s been a dream of mine since I was younger.
Photo Credit: Larry French