MAAC Announces 25th Anniversary Women's Basketball Teams

1/22/2006 12:00:00 AM

Canisius Athletic Communications

Edison, NJ - The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced its 25th Anniversary Women's Basketball Teams.

In honor of the conference's 25 years in existence, 25 players are represented on the silver anniversary squad. Ten members were named the 1980's team, 10 were named to the 1990's squad and five players rounded out the 2000-present team.

Fairfield University and Saint Peter's College led the way as each school had five players on the silver anniversary team, followed by Siena College with four. Manhattan College listed three players, while Canisius College and La Salle University each had two players honored. Rounding out the team were Fordham University, The College of Holy Cross, Loyola College and Niagara University, all with one player represented.

The members of the MAAC 25th Anniversary teams are listed below:

MAAC 25th Anniversary Women's Basketball Teams

1980's
Lisa Mikelic, Fairfield (1987-1991)
Mikelic helped lead the Stags to a pair of MAAC Championships in 1988 and 1991. She was named MVP of the 1991 MAAC Basketball Tournament after leading the Stags to an 80-78 victory over Saint Peter's in the Championship game. Mikelic scored 1,681 points in 117 games played for the Stags, both ranked third on Fairfield's all-time career records. Her 590 assists and 293 steals make her the Stags all-time career leader in assists and the second all-time career leader in steals. Mikelic is a two-time MAAC All-Tournament selection (1988, 1989), a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1989, 1990, 1991) and was 1998 MAAC Rookie of the Year.

Dana Pellegrino, Fairfield (1984-1988)
Pellegrino was the most valuable player of the 1998 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship, where she led the Stags to a 55-50 victory over La Salle. For her career, she scored 1,530 points and dished out 477 assists while starting in 112 games for the Stags. Pellegrino, the 1985 MAAC Rookie of the Year, is a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1987, 1988) and in 1986 was a Second Team All-MAAC selection.

Tricia Sacca, Fairfield (1987-1991)
Sacca was also very instrumental in the Stags' Championship runs of 1988 & 1991. She was a member of the MAAC All-Tournament team in both 1988 & 1991. Sacca finished her 115-game career at Fairfield with 1,622 points and 1,037 rebounds. She also owns the Stags' single-game record for most points scored in a game with 35 points scored against Memphis State. Sacca was a member of the 1988 MAAC All-Rookie Team and was a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1989, 1990, and 1991).

Jeanine Radice, Fordham (1985-1989)
Radice's 21.8 points per game scoring average is an all-time best at Fordham. For her career she scored a total of 2,417 points, second best at Fordham. She is also Fordham's all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage (47.5%) and free-throw percentage (85.1%). Additionally, Radice ranks in the top three of eight career statistical categories at Fordham. Radice won MAAC Rookie of the Week honors a record seven weeks during her freshman season and was named MAAC Rookie of the Year in 1986. She was MAAC Player of the Year in 1989 and is a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1987, 1988, and 1989). Radice was also a member of two MAAC All-Tournament teams (1987, 1989).

Janet Hourihan, Holy Cross (1982-1986)
Hourihan led the Crusaders to two-consecutive MAAC Tournament title games, claiming MVP honors in 1985 after leading Holy Cross to a 62-60 victory over Saint Peter's. She is Holy Cross' career leader in rebounds per game with 10.9 and her 1,178 rebounds are an all-time best for the Crusaders. Her 1,909 career points rank her third all-time for the Crusaders, while her 17.7 scoring average is ranked second all-time. Hourihan is a Kodak District I All-American selection (1986), New England Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1985 and was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1991. Additionally, Hourihan was MAAC Player of the Year in 1985, a three-time First-Team All-MAAC selection (1984, 1985, and 1986) and a two-time MAAC All-Tournament selection (1984, 1986).

Linda Hester, La Salle (1982-1986)
Hester was a key member of the 1985-86 La Salle Explorer team that won the MAAC Championship, earning MVP honors of the tournament. She is La Salle's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,490 points in 108 games. Hester is a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1985, 1986) and is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame.

Tracy Sneed, La Salle (1985-1989)
Sneed played 106 games for the Explorers and finished her career with 1,486 points and had a field-goal percentage of 52.5%, second best in La Salle history. Sneed, a member of the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame, was MAAC Player of the Year in 1998 and was also a First Team All-MAAC selection twice (1988, 1989) during her career. She also was a member of the 1989 MAAC All-Tournament team.

Sheila Tighe, Manhattan (1980-1984)
Tighe is Manhattan's all-time leading scorer with 2,412 points. She owns the highest scoring average in Lady Jasper history at 21.3 points per game. Tighe's 310 career steals ranks her first all-time for the Lady Jaspers. She is one of three players to be named MAAC Player of the Year in back-to-back years (1983, 1984). Tighe, a 1984 All-American selection, was a member of the 1982 MAAC All-Tournament Team and is a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1982, 1983, and 1984). She was inducted to the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Tonya Grant, Saint Peter's (1986-1990)
Grant, a forward, is Saint Peter's all-time leading scorer with 2,020 points. She owns several of the Peahens' scoring records, including the single-game high for most points scored with 44 points scored against Loyola in 1989. Grant's 964 rebounds rank her fourth all-time on the Peahens' career rebounding list. She is a two-time Second Team All-MAAC selection, a First Team All-MAAC selection in 1989 and was the 1990 MAAC Player of the Year.

Blanche Jones, Saint Peter's (1981-1985)
Jones is Saint Peter's third leading all-time scorer with 1,616 career points. She is also the Peahens' career leader in steals with 360. Jones was named most valuable player of the inaugural MAAC Women's Basketball Championship in 1982 and was selected to the MAAC All-Tournament team in 1985. She is a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1982, 1983, and 1985) and a Second Team All-MAAC selection in 1984.

1990's
Heather Fiore, Canisius (1993-1997)
Fiore, the 1997 MAAC Player of the Year, holds the MAAC record for most points scored in a single-game after scoring 46 points against Saint Peter's during the 1996-97 season. For her career, she scored 1,949 points and has a career average of 18.0 points per game. She is Canisius' all-time career leader in 3-point field goals made with 260 and her 586 assists rank her second all-time for the Griffs. Fiore is a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection and was 1994 Co-Rookie of the Year.

Christine Fryer, Fairfield (1992-1996)
Fryer played 116 games for the Stags, totaling 1,584 points and 543 assists. Her 356 career steals is Fairfield's all-time best. She was named MAAC Rookie of the Year in 1993, and was a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1994, 1995, and 1996) in her career. Fryer is also a three-time MAAC All-Tournament selection (1994, 1995, 1996) and is a two-time All-MET selection (1995, 1996).

Gail Strumpf, Fairfield (1997-2001)
Strumpf is Fairfield's all-time leading scorer with 1,873 points. She is also ranked second in rebounds all-time for the Stags with 1,106. She ranks in the top three in eight different career statistical categories for Fairfield. Strumpf is Fairfield's career leader in made free throws (455) and is second all-time in blocked shots (244) and made field goals (749). She was the 1998 MAAC Rookie of the Year and 2000 MAAC Player of the Year. Strumpf was a member of three MAAC All-Tournament teams (1998, 2000, 2001) and a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection.

Gina Somma, Manhattan (1992-1996)
Somma is the Lady Jaspers' third all-time leading scorer with 1,838 points. While playing for the Lady Jaspers she set several individual records, including most points in a season (768), most steals in one game (12) and most field goals made in one game (18). She is ranked in the top five in five different career statistical categories at Manhattan. During the 1995-96 season, Somma was named MAAC Player of the Week a record eight weeks. She is the 1996 MAAC Player of the Year, a First Team All-MAAC selection in 1996 and is a two-time Second Team All-MAAC selection (1994, 1995). Somma is also a two-time MAAC All-Tournament selection (1995, 1996).

Patty Stoffey, Loyola (1991-1995)
Stoffey is regarded as the greatest women's basketball player in Greyhound history. She is the first Greyhound women's basketball player to have her number (#44) retired. Her 2,467 career points are the best in the history of Maryland women's college basketball. She still holds 16 school records, including points in a season (757), career field goals (901) career free throws (664) and blocked shots (157). Stoffey, a two-time MAAC Tournament MVP, led the Greyhounds to back-to-back MAAC Basketball Championships and two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 1994 and 1995. She owns the single-game high for most points in a tournament game with 36 points, scored on consecutive days. Additionally, Stoffey was selected MAAC Player of the Week a record eleven times during her career. Stoffey is a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1993, 1994, 1995), a MAAC All-Tournament selection (1993), the 1992 MAAC Rookie of the Year and the 1995 MAAC Player of the Year.

Mercy Aghedo, Saint Peter's (1996-2000)
Aghedo was a member of three MAAC Tournament Championship teams during her playing days at Saint Peter's. She was a MAAC All-Tournament selection in 2000. Aghedo's 1,050 career rebounds rank her third all-time for the Peahens. Over her three years as a starter, Aghedo averaged 10.8 rebounds a season. She was a First Team All-MAAC selection in 1999.

Joann Balsamo, Saint Peter's (1988-1992)
Balsamo scored 1,663 career points, which rank her second all-time on Saint Peter's scoring list. Balsamo led the Peahens to their first of two consecutive MAAC Basketball Championships in 1992, where she was also named MVP. She was a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection and was a MAAC All-Tournament selection in 1991.

Nadine Davis, Saint Peter's (1989-1993)
Davis helped lead the Peahens to three MAAC Basketball Tournament title games during her career. She was named MVP of the 1993 Tournament, where she led the Peahens to the second consecutive MAAC Basketball Tournament title. Davis scored 1,265 points during her career, ninth all-time at Saint Peter's and her 750 rebounds rank seventh all-time. She was a member of the 1993 MAAC All-Tournament team and a First Team All-MAAC selection in 1993.

Melanie Halker, Siena (1995-1999)
Halker starred for Siena from 1995-1999 and finished her career as the Saints' top all-time rebounder with 1,122 boards and second all-time leading scorer with 2,021 points. Halker, the 1996 MAAC Rookie of the Year, is one of three players to win back-to-back MAAC Player of the Year honors (1998, 1999) in her career. She earned three First Team All-MAAC selections and two MAAC All-Tournament Team selections. Halker averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds for her career in the Green & Gold.

Liz Lops, Siena (1990-1994)
Lops is Siena's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,702 points. She is also the Saints third all-time leading rebounder with 915. In 1991, Lops was honored as the MAAC Rookie of the Year and was also a member of the MAAC All-Rookie team. In 1994, Lops was selected Kodak All-America, Honorable Mention and MAAC Player of the Year. She is a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection (1993, 1994) and a two-time MAAC All-Tournament selection (1993, 1994).

2000's
J?nel Stevens, Canisius (2000-2004)
During her senior season, Stevens became the first Canisius women's player to be named the MAAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after helping lead the Golden Griffins to a 19-11 mark in 2003-04 and the team's first appearance in the MAAC Championship game. She closed out her career with 1,590 points and 874 rebounds, which ranks fourth all-time in career scoring and third in career rebounding. Stevens ranks in the top 10 in 14 Canisius career statistical categories. She is a two-time MAAC All-Tournament selection (2003, 2004), a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection (2003, 2004) and a Second Team All-MAAC selection in 2002.

Eva Cunningham, Niagara (2001-2005)
Cunningham finished her career at Niagara as the program's top all-time scorer with 1,753 points. Her 552 assists make her the Purple Eagles' best playmaker in program history and she played 114 games in Purple & White to finish her career as the program's leader in games played. Cunningham is a two-time All-MAAC Tournament selection, a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection, 2004 Second Team All-MAAC selection, 2002 MAAC All-Rookie Team selection, 2003 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2005 MAAC Player of the Year.

Rosalee Mason, Manhattan (2000-2004)
Mason was one of the Lady Jasper's premier players from 2000-2004. Mason is the Lady Jaspers' all-time rebounding leader with 1,217 boards in her career. She also holds school records for most rebounds in a game (25) and most rebounds in a single-season (344), set during the 2001-02 season. Mason finished her career at Manhattan as the program's second leading scorer with 1,875 points and boasts the program's third highest scoring average at 16.3 points per game. Mason is a two-time All-MAAC Tournament selection (2002, 2003), a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (2002, 2003, 2004) and was a member of the 2001 MAAC All-Rookie Team.

Gunta Basko, Siena (1999-2003)
Basko is Siena's third all-time leading scorer with 1,833 points and she is the Saints' second all-time leading rebounder with 1,036 career boards. She also ranks third on the Saints all-time career blocks list with 125 blocks and is third all-time in career steals with 265. Basko is one of three players to be named MAAC Player of the Year in consecutive years (2001, 2002) and is a two-time Kodak District II All-America selection (2002, 2003). Basko was selected to the All-MAAC Tournament team in 2001 & 2002. She is also a two-time First-Team All-MAAC selection (2001, 2002).

Liene Jansone, Siena (2000-2004)
From 2001-2003, Jansone led the Saints to three consecutive MAAC Basketball Championship title games and claimed MVP honors of the 2001 Championship. She was a MAAC All-Tournament selection in two of those seasons (2002, 2003). She finished her career at Siena as fifth all-time career leader in points with 1,639. Jansone was honored as the 2001 MAAC Rookie of the Year and was also named MAAC Player of the Year in 2003. She was a First-Team All-MAAC selection in 2003 and a Second Team All-MAAC selection in 2002.