Baldwin grad Meghan Dryburgh relishes playing with USA D3 team in Brazil

Baldwin grad Meghan Dryburgh has played basketball at Washington & Jefferson for just two years and already the awards are stacking up.

This past season, the 5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward was named PAC player of the year, All-PAC first team, All-Region 7 Second Team, All-America Honorable Mention, and was a five-time NCAA player of the week.

“My sophomore season was great,” Dryburgh said. ”I really pushed myself to compete, and I am extremely grateful for all these achievements. I couldn’t have done it without my team and coaching staff.

“After winning our conference my freshman year, we had high hopes throughout the season. We were ranked nationally and maintained the top seed going into the playoffs. Unfortunately, we came up short in the semifinal game against Chatham.”

Dryburgh, 20, capped her sophomore year as a member of the USA D3 women’s basketball team that competed July 10-19 in Brazil.

“Meghan got to experience the international game,” said Jina DeRubbo, W&J’s veteran coach. “It was an eye-opener for her; she talked about the size and physicality of the game. I am hoping this only continues to help her grow as a player and a person. We are really excited to see what she can going into her junior season this year.”

The all-star team was formed by Ron Smith, owner/director since 2010 of USA Sports Tours & Events, located in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Jon Herbrechtsmeyer from Bethel University coached the squad.

“I was invited to play for the USA D3 team, which consisted of nine girls from all over,” Dryburgh said. “My teammates were from Allegheny College, Trinity University, Hanover College, LeTourneau University and the University of Northwestern.

“We competed against four teams in Brazil: Itu, Campinas, Mesquita and Grajau. We played two games in São Paulo and two in Rio de Janeiro. Some of the teams were made up of professional players and former Olympians.”

Once in South America, the USA hoopsters jumped right into it.

“We had no prior practices or meetings before playing any of our games,” Dryburgh said, “so it was a very interesting and fun experience to meet and play with these girls.”

Sight-seeing also was an important and valuable part of the international adventure.

“Besides playing basketball, we were able to experience the beauty of Brazil,” Dryburgh said. “We went to Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer statue, the Selaron staircase, Sugarloaf Mountain and Ipanema Beach.

“My favorite part of the trip was being able to do a youth clinic with Mudando o Placar. Both our girls team and the boys team were able to share some basketball knowledge and bring donations for these kids. I was very thankful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Dryburgh, a biology major, had a sensational season at Washington & Jefferson in 2022-23.

She ranked seventh in the conference in scoring (13.3), second in rebounding (11.5), third in field goal percentage (48.1), second in assists (3.8), fifth in steals (2.4) and fifth in blocked shots (1.5). Her 311 total rebounds were seven shy of the school record.

Dryburgh wrapped up the year with 17 double-doubles, highlighted by a 22-point, 26-rebound line in a Jan. 14 victory at Grove City. She also posted a triple-double Jan. 25 against Chatham with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Through two collegiate seasons, Dryburgh has totaled 604 points, 557 rebounds, 176 assists, 117 steals and 73 blocks in 55 games.

“Meghan had a great sophomore season,” DeRubbo said. “She grew into being much more confident in her game. She carried our team for the entire season and put up some very impressive statistics. Her freshman year, like so many other players, was filled with inconsistent play. This season, as teams began to focus on stopping her, she got all of her teammates involved. With all the accolades and the attention Meghan received, she is still a team-first player. She and her teammates want to win championships. She doesn’t feel the need to go out and be the leading scorer every game as long as the team is winning.

“I think Meghan’s biggest challenge going into her junior season is how to continue to expand her game. She has challenged herself this summer with becoming a better 3-point shooter. Adding that piece to her game will make it exceptionally difficult to defend her from anywhere on the floor.”

W&J racked up a 24-3 record in 2022-23, including a 19-1 mark in conference play.

DeRubbo, who was tabbed PAC Coach of the Year for a second straight season and the ninth time in her career, acknowledged Dryburgh as being a team leader in her sophomore season at W&J.

“Meghan is sometimes thought of as the mom on our team to some of her teammates,” DeRubbo said. “She is mature, a very serious student and while she enjoys her free time, she often is keeping her friends in line. Meghan is not afraid to get on her teammates if she doesn’t think things are going as they should, but she is also a supportive teammate at the same time.

“I think Meghan’s strength is her versatility. People don’t often recognize her court vision and ability to pass the ball. It honestly is what drew me to her. Obviously, she can score and is a phenomenal rebounder, but you add her ability to be a playmaker and that makes her truly special at this level.”

W&J is a member of the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Dryburgh also was recruited by schools such as Mansfield, Millersville, John Carroll, Saint Vincent, Waynesburg, Baldwin-Wallace and Carlow.

“Ultimately, W&J felt like the best fit for me both academically and athletically,” Dryburgh said. “I considered six or seven schools with the OAC, PSAC and PAC but chose W&J because they wanted to challenge me.

“The faculty’s very enthusiastic about their curriculum. They know how to point biology majors in the right direction and I really liked that.”

Jamal Woodson, in his fourth year as floor boss of the Baldwin girls basketball program, coached Dryburgh during her senior year of high school.

“Meghan’s success is no surprise at all,” Woodson said. “She never missed a practice, never complained and always gave everything she had in each practice and game. She scored 18 points and had 20 rebounds to help us secure Baldwin’s first playoff win in five years.

“Meghan’s size makes her really hard to guard. If you’re big, she will take you outside and shoot the 3. If you’re a guard, she will post you up.”

Dryburgh has remained a familiar face in the Baldwin gym.

“What I love most about Meghan is her always wanting to be a part of the Baldwin basketball culture even after she’s graduated,” Woodson said. “She’s always coming back to practices and attending games in her days off at W&J. Meghan is a great person on and off the court.”

Dryburgh committed to the Presidents following a four-year varsity career in high school. She graduated from Baldwin with a 4.3 GPA.

After attending Seton LaSalle as a freshman, Dryburgh transferred to Baldwin, where she became an impact player in her junior and senior seasons. She missed most of her sophomore season because of an ankle injury.

Dryburgh has a 3.6 GPA at W&J and was an academic all-district honoree.

“I am not sure what I want to do after college,” she said, “but I am doing an internship at the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh this summer where I am helping rehabilitate animals back into the wild. It is such a great experience and has made me consider exploring a veterinary or research role.”

Dryburgh’s sister Morgan was a basketball and volleyball standout at Brentwood. As a 5-11 senior forward in 2017-18, she led the Spartans to an 18-8 record and into the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA second round.

After graduating from Pitt this winter with a degree in mechanical engineering and a certificate in nuclear engineering, Dryburgh’s “big sister” is now working as an engineer in a facility in Pennsylvania.