Retas Earns AD3I First Team Honors, Raccuglia Named to Second Team, Marino Gets Honorable Mention
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Following their outstanding performance on the hardwood this season, three St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) women's basketball players were named to the Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) year-end awards. Senior Samantha Retas (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) was named to the Association's first team, Taylor Raccuglia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) earned second team accolades, while Destiny Marino (Middle Village, N.Y./Christ the King) grabbed an honorable mention.
This is Retas' second time earning AD3I First Team honors, and also named USCAA Second Team and HVIAC All-Conference this season. The senior concluded her career with team-highs 13.3 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per contest, which was ranked second in the USCAA.
The All-HVIAC selection, USCAA Second Team All-American and HVIAC Tournament MVP recorded a team-best 14 double-doubles on the season. The senior became the all-time Lady Bears' leader in rebounds and blocks, and also part of the prestigious 1,000 point/1,000 rebound club en route to St. Joseph's HVIAC Championship.
Raccuglia takes home Second Team recognition for the second time in her career, earning Second Team accolades last season. The one-time USCAA Player of the Week and two-time HVIAC All-Conference member tallied 13.0 points per contest, including six games of 20 points or more.
She also added 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists, both second on the team, and was second in the Association with 2.5 blocks per game.
Marino had an outstanding first season in a Lady Bears uniform. The HVIAC Co-Rookie of the Year and a member of the HVIAC All-Conference Team, the freshman led the team and the conference with 4.0 assists per game along with 12.2 points and 7.2 boards per contest.
She also ranked ninth in the Association shooting 42.4 percent from the field. The one-time AD3I Player of the Week had a streak of 20 consecutive games scoring 10 points or more.
The All-Independent Women's Basketball teams were selected by the women's basketball
coaches from AD3I member schools.
# # #
2015 ALL-INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jah-Leah Ellis, The College of New Rochelle
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Chrisandra Freeman, Mount Mary University
COACH OF THE YEAR: Todd Kent, University of California, Santa Cruz
FIRST TEAM ALL-INDEPENDENT |
||||
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR | POS | HOMETOWN |
| Jah-Leah Ellis | College of New Rochelle | Sr. | F | Harlem, N.Y. |
| Sarah Mackey | University of California, Santa Cruz | Sr. | F | Placerville, Calif. |
| Leah Parrish | University of California, Santa Cruz | Sr. | F | Fair Oaks, Calif. |
| Alyssa Pechin | College of New Rochelle | Sr. | G | Yonkers, N.Y. |
| Samantha Retas | St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) | Sr. | F | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
|
SECOND TEAM ALL-INDEPENDENT |
||||
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR | POS | HOMETOWN |
| Chrisandra Freeman | Mount Mary University | Fr. | F/G | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| Felicia TeKolste | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Jr. | G | Firth, Neb. |
| Stacie Ross | Maranatha Baptist University | Sr. | F | Wyoming, Mich. |
| Geena Giovannetti | University of California, Santa Cruz | Sr. | G | Pacifica, Calif. |
| Taylor Raccuglia | St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) | Sr. | F | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
|
HONORABLE MENTION |
||||
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR | POS | HOMETOWN |
| Courtney Cook | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Jr. | F | Overland Park, Kan. |
| Destiny Marino | St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) | Fr. | G | Queens, N.Y. |
| Hannah Cambel | College of New Rochelle | Fr. | G | Houston, Texas |
| Emily Hinsenkamp | Maranatha Baptist University | Jr. | F | Detroit, Mich. |
| Jasmine Meyer | Mount Mary University | Fr. | F | Lansing, Kan. |
| Becky Onan | Mount Mary University | Fr. | G/F | Grafton, Wis. |
| Lexi Johnson | Maranatha Baptist University | Fr. | F | Stephenson, Mich. |