MAAC Announces 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll

MAAC Announces 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll

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MAAC Sports

Edison, N.J. - In conjunction with the 2013 MAAC Basketball Championships at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., the MAAC has announced the latest class to be inducted in the MAAC Honor Roll, in which honorees will be enshrined in The MAAC Experience exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"The Hall of Fame welcomes back the MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships to Springfield," said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  "The Hall of Fame represents the best of the best in the game of basketball, and the MAAC's honorees are well represented in the conference exhibition.  We congratulate this year's honorees and welcome them to the Basketball Hall of Fame and to Springfield, Massachusetts for the 2013 MAAC Basketball Championships."

"The tremendous response from the 2012 honorees of families last March, reinforced within the MAAC the value and honor of being associated with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with this event," notes Rich Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC.  "The 2013 class of honorees is deep in basketball success, and the conference membership looks forward to their induction in March into the MAAC Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll."

Each member institution of the MAAC will have one male and one female of its basketball alumni as part of the 2013 induction class. A private dinner event will be on Friday, March 8 at the Hall of Fame, where the honorees will be added to The MAAC Experience exhibit and receive special recognition from a Hall of Fame legend. Each honoree will be profiled in the game program for the 2013 MAAC Basketball Championships, and will also be featured in a video display at The MAAC Experience. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the #8 vs. #9 men's first round game set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday.


The 2013 Hall of Fame Honor Roll includes:

School

Male

Female

Canisius College

Hon. Henry Nowak

Gina Castelli

Fairfield University

Tony George

Katrina Fields Alexander

Iona College

Dave Brown

Maggie Timoney

Loyola University Maryland

Michael Morrison

Lorrie Schenning

Manhattan College

Keith Bullock

Gina Somma

Marist College

Fred Weiss

Rachele Fitz

Niagara University

Calvin Murphy

Mary Roickle

Rider University

Alberto Baptiste

Debbie Snyder-Glover

Saint Peter's University

Bernie Cicirelli, Sr.

Mike Granelli

Siena College

Bruce Schroeder

Val Higgins O'Dell

The MAAC Experience is an exhibit that is hosted in the Basketball Hall of Fame since the fall of 2012 as part of the MAAC Basketball Championships in Springfield. The 2013 MAAC Basketball Championships will take place March 7-11 at the MassMutual Center.

Hon. Henry Nowak - Canisius College (1954-57)

Known as "Hammerin' Hank," for his tough and aggressive style of play, Nowak was the driving force behind Canisius' three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1955-57. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Nowak scored 1,449 career points and pulled down 880 career rebounds, which still ranks first all-time in Golden Griffin history. A three-year letterwinner in Blue and Gold, he currently ranks eighth all-time in career points, second in career free-throws made (557) and second in career rebounds per game (11.3 per contest). He is one of two Canisius players in school history to play in a record nine NCAA Tournament games, where he averaged 19.4 points per game, highlighted by his 29-point effort in the Griffs' famous four-overtime victory over No. 2 North Carolina State in Madison Square Garden on March 12, 1956.  A Second-Team UPI All-East Region honoree in 1955-56, Nowak was a two-time Queen City Invitational All-Tournament award winner, and he was named the tournament's MVP in 1956-57 when the Griffs beat Cornell and Minnesota to win the event's championship. He was also honored by the NCAA in 1982, when he was named to the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Team.

Gina Castelli - Canisius College (1982-86)

Castelli scored 1,524 points in her four-year career, leaving as the program as the second all-time leading scorer and currently ranking fifth in the category. Castelli also set program records with 578 assists (currently third), 273 steals (currently tied for fourth) and 682 field goals made (currently second). During Castelli's four years with the Blue and Gold, Canisius posted an 82-34 record, including a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight during the 1982-83 season when Canisius won a program-record 28 games. Castelli was inducted into the Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and also again in 2012 as a part of the 1982-83 Golden Griffin women's basketball team.

Tony George - Fairfield University (1982-86)

George was a senior guard and team captain of the 1986 MAAC Championship team that earned the Stags' first berth in to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The 1986 squad established school records for wins in a season (24), and conference wins in a season (13), both of which stood until the 2010-11 season. That season, George averaged 20.3 points per game en route to being named the 1985-86 MAAC Player of the Year. He finished his college career as Fairfield's all-time leading scorer with 2,006 points.  George still holds the single season records for most points (630) and field goals made (226), both achieved during the 1985-86 season.  He is one of 36 men's basketball players that have earned a spot in the Fairfield Athletics Hall of Fame, inducted in the Class of 1991.

Katrina Fields Alexander - Fairfield University (1981-85)

Fields Alexander was the first player in Fairfield history to graduate with over 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.  She is one of 23 players that has scored over 1,000 points as a member of the Stag program, closing out her collegiate career with 1,804 points, the second highest career point total.  Fields Alexander continues to hold the career records for rebounds (1,210) and field goals made (748).  She is also ranked fifth all-time in blocks with 192 and ninth in free throws made with 308.  Fields Alexander was chosen as the 1982 MAAC Rookie of the Year and a two-time member of the All-MAAC First Team.  In 1990, she was inducted in the Fairfield Hall of Fame.

Dave Brown - Iona College (1976-79)

Brown was a standout on the hardwood from 1976-79 and was the late Jim Valvano's first-ever recruit at Iona College. During his 107-game career at Iona, he amassed 1,438 points and grabbed 910 rebounds. As a player, Brown served as team captain for Iona's first NCAA Tournament qualifying team that posted a 23-6 mark.  Following graduation, he joined the coaching staff at his alma mater for four seasons.

Maggie Timoney - Iona College (1985-89)

A four-year standout for the Lady Gaels, Timoney currently ranks as the school's all-time leading scorer, tallying 1,894 career points. As a freshman, she was named the 1986 MAAC Rookie of the Year and her 12.7 points per game average is the second best freshmen scoring average in Iona history. Timoney led the team in scoring in each of her next three years, averaging a program-best 16.6 points per game throughout her career. As a sophomore, she was named to the All-MAAC First Team after averaging 19.9 points a game. Timoney also earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team during her junior year. She ranks among the top five all-time in the Iona record book in seven other offensive categories, including ranking first on the field goal attempts, three-point field goal percentage, and free throws made and attempted lists. After graduation, Timoney served for two years as a graduate assistant coach for the Lady Gaels from 1989-91.

Michael Morrison - Loyola University Maryland (1985-89)

Morrison scored 666 points for Loyola during the 1987-88 season, the third-most in school single-season history. His 22.2 points per game mark that year is fourth-best in school history. He Followed that performance with 611 points during his senior year in 1988-89. Morrison finished his Loyola career with 1,697 points, the fifth most in school history. As one of the top NEC guards of the 1980s, he was named to the Northeast Conference 25th Anniversary Team. The fourth all-time leading scorer for Loyola and 20th on the NEC's career list, Morrison was tabbed to the All-NEC First Team as a junior and senior.  He finished second in the conference in scoring with 22.3 points per game in 1987-88, and third with 21.8 points per game in 1988-89.  Morrison scored more than 20 points 34 times during career.  He was the 51st overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, the only Loyola player in the modern era to be drafted by the NBA.  Morrison played with Phoenix in 1989-90, and saw considerable action as the Suns advanced to the NBA Western Conference finals.  He also played in the CBA and Global Basketball League before heading overseas to compete in both Australia and Venezuela.

Lorrie Schenning - Loyola University Maryland (1986-90)

A four-year starter at guard from 1986-1990, Schenning held the Loyola career steals record of 250 from 1990 until 2012. A phenomenal defensive player, she also led the Greyhounds in scoring all four seasons in Baltimore, and ranks second all-time at Loyola in career points with 1,565.

Keith Bullock - Manhattan College (1989-93)

Bullock netted 1,992 points and grabbed 1,012 rebounds while playing for the Jaspers. A Dean's List student, he led a renaissance period of Manhattan College basketball as he served as a key starter in guiding the Jaspers to their first postseason appearances in 15 years to the NIT (1992) and the NCAA (1993). Bullock was named the 1990 MAAC Rookie of the Year and was a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection. His senior season, Bullock was team captain, named the 1993 MAAC Player of the Year, the 1993 MAAC Tournament MVP, and First-Team All-Metropolitan as Manhattan won its first MAAC title in men's basketball. He was inducted into the Manhattan Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Gina Somma - Manhattan College (1992-96)

During her senior campaign, Somma helped Manhattan capture its third-ever MAAC Championship by netting 768 points, which is the most ever scored by a Manhattan player in a single season. She finished her career at Manhattan by being named the 1996 MAAC Player of the Year, Metropolitan Player of the Year and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American after finishing third in nation in scoring (25.6 ppg) and leading the Jaspers to the MAAC title and an NCAA berth. She graduated having scored 1,838 points and grabbed 819 rebounds, which currently ranks her third and fifth, respectively, on Manhattan's all-time list.  Somma is also second all-time in scoring average, netting 16.7 points per game. She was named Second Team All-MAAC as a sophomore and junior, and led the team three times in scoring, steals and blocks, and four times in rebounding. Somma was inducted into the Manhattan Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

Fred Weiss - Marist College (1961-65)

Weiss was a star in the early days of the Marist basketball program. A 6-foot-6 center, Weiss was a member of the program in its initial varsity seasons. He was the first Red Fox to score 1,000 points in his career, and he finished with 1,059 points. That total is still good for 21st place on Marist's all-time scoring list, over 45 years after his playing career concluded. Weiss averaged 17.1 points per game. He also enjoyed a 38-point, 26-rebound performance in 1963.


Rachele Fitz - Marist College (2006-10)

Fitz graduated Marist in 2010 as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Marist women's basketball history, as she was the first player in program history to surpass both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. With 2,447 points, she is ranked as the second all-time leading scorer in MAAC women's basketball history.  Fitz was a two-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American (2008-09, 2009-10), a preseason and midseason Wooden Award candidate (2008-09), and the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year (2008-09).  She was named the MAAC Player of the Year three times and played on four NCAA Championship teams. Fitz was named MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2007, when Marist became the first MAAC team to reach the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.  She was named the MAAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2010. She started her professional career in the 2010-11 season for Basket Esch in Luxembourg, and played her first season with ROW Rybnik in Poland in 2011-12.

Calvin Murphy - Niagara University (1967-70)

Murphy was a three-time All American who scored 2,548 points in 77 games played for the Purple Eagles. His 33.1 point average during his college career ranks fourth on the NCAA career chart behind Pete Maravich (LSU - 44.2 ppg), Austin Carr (Notre Dame - 34.5 ppg) and Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati - 33.8 ppg).  In his junior campaign, Murphy netted a career high 68 points in a 118-110 victory over Syracuse University, the third highest single game scoring effort in NCAA history.  In 1970, he helped lead Niagara to its first berth into the NCAA Tournament, where the Purple Eagles upset the University of Pennsylvania in the first round.  Murphy was selected as the 18th overall pick of the 1970 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets (now Houston Rockets).  He played for 13 seasons for the Rockets, registering 17,949 points, 4,402 assists and 1,165 steals in over 1,000 games played. After retiring from the NBA in 1983, he was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Murphy's number 23 jersey has been retired by both Niagara and the Rockets.

Mary Roickle - Niagara University (1972-75, head coach 1976-80)

Roickle served as head coach of the Niagara women's basketball program for four seasons, posting a record of 84-19 and holds the school record for career winning percentage (.815).  She led the 1978-79 team to a third-place finish at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Tournament and to 30 wins the most in school history.  Her 1977-78 team set the school record for the highest single game winning margin, defeating D'Youville College, 92-16.

Alberto Baptiste - Rider University (1976-80)

During his time at Rider, Baptiste scored 1,756 points, and held the program's all-time scoring record for 13 years.  He held the record for field goals made in a season (247 in 1980) for 28 years before it was broken by Jason Thompson and the record for consecutive games played, appearing in all 107 games played during his four year career, before it was broken in 2007. He continues to hold Rider records for consecutive games with 20 or more points (13 in 1980). Baptiste graduated ranked fourth in career scoring average (16.4 ppg) and eighth in rebounding (638). In 1980, he was the leading scorer in the East Coast Conference West and had seven games of 30 or more points during his senior campaign, including 34 against Clemson and again in a win over Saint Joseph's.  Baptiste was a two-time second team All-ECC selection.

Debbie Snyder-Glover - Rider University (1991-94)

Snyder-Glover is Rider's all-time leading scorer with 1,706 points, and graduated fifth in career assists (318, currently seventh) and fifth in career rebounds (529, currently 12th). She also holds the Rider record for the highest scoring average for a season (15.9 ppg) on the Division I level. Snyder-Glover was named the East Coast Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, after earning All-ECC and ECC Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman.  A three-time team captain for the Broncs, Snyder-Glover was Rider's Female Athlete of the Year and Rider's NJAIAW Woman of the Year.

Bernie Cicirelli, Sr. - Saint Peter's University (1952-55)

Cicirelli was the first player in Saint Peter's history to be named as an All-American.  Despite leading the Peacocks in scoring and assists, he took the most pride in his defensive ability.  Under legendary coach Don Kennedy, Cicirelli was the stopper assigned to shut down the opponent's best guard.  Now retired, he has served on the Board of Regents at Saint Peter's.

Mike Granelli - Saint Peter's University (1972-2004)

In 32 years as head coach of the Saint Peter's women's basketball program, Granelli posted a record of 607-249 (.709).  At the time of his retirement, he was one of three coaches in women's college basketball history to win 600 games at the same school (Pat Summitt at Tennessee and Jody Conradt at Texas).  During his tenure, Granelli led his squad to 10 MAAC regular season titles, nine MAAC championship crowns and seven NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship appearances.  He was also named the MAAC Coach of the Year five times during his time in Jersey City (1982, 1986, 1996, 1997 and 1999).  Over the course of 24 seasons - from the 1978-79 season to the 2001-02 season - Granelli's teams reached the 17-win mark 23 times.  From 1972 to 1989, he also served as the men's soccer head coach at Saint Peter's, compiling a record of 163-110-28, the most victories by any men's soccer head coach in school history.

Bruce Schroeder - Siena College (1988-92)

Schroeder currently sits at 20th on the all-time Siena scoring list with 1,290 points. He made two postseason tournament appearances, including the victory over Stanford in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. Schroeder also excelled off the court, as he was voted to the GTE District I Academic All-American after his junior year, was named a National GTE First Team All-American, and was awarded with an NCAA post-graduate scholarship.  He helped guide Siena's 1990-91 MAAC regular season co-champions to the NIT in his junior year.  During his senior season, Schroeder received Second Team All-MAAC honors. He was also named to the Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team in 1990-91. He led the Saints to wins over Farleigh Dickinson and South Carolina, before a loss to UMass at the Knickerbocker Arena in the NIT. Schroeder's teams won two conference regular season championships and never finished lower than third place. 


Val Higgins O'Dell - Siena College (1987-91)

Higgins O'Dell is ranked 16th all-time on Siena's scoring chart, netting 1,137 points while wearing the Green and Gold. She still holds the individual single-game record for most field goals made (18) along with the second best point performance in a single game, netting 37 points in Siena's 70-69 win over Manhattan during her senior campaign.  Higgins O'Dell is tied for 11th place in career rebounds, pulling down 682 caroms.  Proficient in the classroom as well, she was named GTE District II Academic All-America and GTE Academic All-America, Second Team in 1991.  Higgins O'Dell was a two-time member of the All-MAAC First Team was named the 1990-91 MAAC Player of the Year. She averaged 19.8 points during her 1990-91 MAAC Player of the Year season and stands fourth all-time in program history in field goal percentage (51.7%).