LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Basketball rising sophomore Valencia Fontenelle-Posson competed for the United States in the 2022 Deaflympics, bringing home a gold medal after defeating Italy by a final score of 91-77 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
Fontenelle-Posson and the United States went a perfect 3-0 in group play, defeating Lithuania, Kenya, and Turkey. The US then defeated host Brazil in the quarterfinals and Greece in the semifinals to contest Italy for the gold medal.
"The Deaflympics in Brazil was such a great experience," said Fontenelle-Posson. "The deaf community in Brazil was strong and very welcoming. The team worked really hard to plan and execute everything that Coach Toria wanted us to do so that we could win! Playing against people from different countries was super cool. At first I thought playing without my hearing aids was kind of scary. But I came to the realization that everyone on the court couldn't hear and we were all in the same boat the game was actually easier to play and focus. Winning the gold was one of the best experiences of my life so far."
The Altamont, New York native had a few standout performances for Team USA, which included a 19-point, five rebound game in their opening win against Lithuania. The rising sophomore finished 7-for-13 from the floor, including a 4-for-9 clip from three-point range.
As a freshman for the Saints this season, Fontenelle-Posson averaged 4.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 steals in 18.1 minutes per game. Her breakout game came with a 13-point, 11-rebound showing in a win over Saint Peter's on Mar. 3.
Gallery: (5-17-2022) Valencia Fontenelle-Posson Deaflympics [hidden]