By Ryan MacInnis, Globe Correspondent

Entering Monday night's Cape Ann matchup against visiting Amesbury, Masconomet Regional senior guard Brooke Steward was 23 points shy of 1,000 career points.

The Chieftains’ 6-foot-1 captain scored her 23rd point on a made free throw with 1:41 left in the second quarter.

“I basically shut my life off from March to August and traveled with the Lawrence Rivals to play in tournaments all over the U.S and it made my game so much better” said Stewart.

The William and Mary commit finished the night with 26 points and 15 rebounds without stepping on the floor in the second half in their 63-46 victory over Amesbury.

“I am so thrilled for Brooke” said 10-year coach Bob Romeo.
“The way she did it was probably the best way to do it. She rebounded, ran the floor and made crucial free throws. She’s the type of girl I can push hard that knows there’s always room for improvement.”

The win puts the Chieftains at 4-1 with Stewart averaging 24.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

In attendance was her older sister, Caroline, a member of the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound club at Masconomet who is a senior forward on the women's team at Boston University.

“It’s a special time for us” said the elder Stewart. “I try to get to every game I can and I always tell her to keep rebounding.”

With an ultimate goal of going to the Garden, Brooke has another goal for the 2011-2012 season.

“I want to beat my sister in points” said Stewart who is chasing an impressive 1,329 points, 1,089 rebounds. “I’ve already done the math and I know I can beat her.”