Tirana, Albania- Former Mount Saint Mary College Women's Basketball All-Star, Morina Bojka has taken the next step in her career.  In late July of this year, she signed a professional contract with K.S. Tirana, an Albanian women's basketball program.

Morina, or Mo, was kind enough to take time out of her day and relive her story from her time before Mount Saint Mary College, to where she is now.  

Mo's family story starts as every great Hollywood tale does, set in a distant land.  Her great-grandfather, a political representative of his town in Albania, was persecuted during the early 19th century, when communism began to spread.  He was arrested and put in jail, to which he later escaped and gathered his family and fled through the mountains into Macedonia.  Her parents were born in Macedonia and came to the United States where Morina was born.  Growing up, Morina, would split her time in both the United States and in North Macedonia.  This is where a simple fashion choice would set her future career in motion.

"I was 17 and walking down the street wearing basketball shorts.  A man stopped me and asked if I play basketball," said Bojka.  As luck would have it, this man was the Head Coach of the Macedonian Women's Basketball National team.  "I was invited to a couple of practices and really enjoyed it!"  This was the catalyst for things to come.  The coach stayed in contact and followed her career throughout her time in college.

Mo was recruited out of high school by former Mount Saint Mary coach, Michael Coppolino, whom she played for her freshman and sophomore year. During which the Knights lost in the Skyline Conference Championship both years. Entering her Junior year, MSMC hired Coach Colleen Ames as the new Women's Basketball coach.

"When Coach Ames took over, there was a different feeling, I put my trust in her and in return she put her trust in me"

Junior year the team lost in the semifinals, which, to Mo, was a total let down.  She knew she needed to make the most of her Senior year.  But the Covid Pandemic had other plans.  
"There was no way I was going out like that.  I refused to leave without a championship, so I decided to come back for one more year."

Bojka made it a point to say how much Father Greg Fluet helped her during her time at Mount Saint Mary College.  She still, to this day, says he is a friend and is so thankful for how supportive he was during her in school.  She even credited Father Greg for her getting into the MBA program, as he wrote a wonderful recommendation letter for her.

The first day Bojka set the tone and expectations for the team.  "Day one, I made sure the team knew, we were not going to settle for anything less than a championship."  She joked during our conversation about how tough she was on her team during practice.  "I was not willing to settle for anything less than everyone's best, there was no IF about if we were going to win, it was going to happen."  She went on to say "I never felt so connected to any team in my whole life, those girls were like my sisters."

Throughout all of Mo's stories she shared, a polite yet enthusiastic tone was used.  But when she told the story about her final year, she spoke in a very serious definitive manor.  The hard work, the intensity, and drive.  She was almost insulted when I asked how it ended, "are you crazy?!?!?  Of course we won!!"

Switching gears, she moved from basketball to reminiscing about her time at "the mount."  She credits her success to the library and library staff.

"I spent more time in the library than I did in the gym, I didn't know how to study and be a successful student until I was at Mount Saint Mary, I basically lived at the library." She made sure to emphasize that the she had nothing but good things to say and remember about her time as a student and a student-athlete.

During her last year as a student, a friend helped get her clips to an agency and set her up with an agent.  But it was her biggest supporter that helped her get in contact with the K.S.Tirana.  "my grandpa has never missed a game, he is my biggest fan!"  It was through his connections that he was able to get her in contact with the right people in the Albanian league.

Mo is very excited to be a member of K.S. Tirana, and but isn't ready to get comfortable.  She already is talking about how she wants to help this team with a championship and hopefully catch the eye of the team's coach who also happens to be the coach for the Albanian national team.  "they don't mess around over here, we are working like crazy, it's so exciting."

She ended our discussion with a message to the incoming and returning student-athletes "don't be discouraged with playing time, or results, put in the hard work, put your head down and work for it, if you want something bad enough, hold yourself accountable and work on it.  It's the same for school.  Just make sure to hold yourself accountable and put in the work and you will succeed."

Morina proudly graduated from Mount Saint Mary College with her degree in Nursing where she went on to pass the NCLEX and earned her license in Nursing.  After which she returned to the Mount and earned her MBA.

Morina Bojka Career Highlights at Mount Saint Mary College
2019-20: First Team All-Skyline Conference, Second Team All-Met Writers Association, Skyline Conference Player of the Week on 11/19, 1/20 and 1/27 
2021-22: Skyline Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-Skyline Conference, Skyline Conference Championship Most Outstanding Player, D3Hoops.com Second Team All-Region III, Second Team All-ECAC, First Team All-Met Writers Association, Skyline Conference Player of the Week on 11/22, 1/10, 2/1 and 2/21, Skyline Conference Academic Honor Roll