2010-2011 End of the Year Banquet

The Iona College women’s basketball team held its annual end-of-the-year awards banquet on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. The ceremony took place in the McGrath Room of the LaPenta Student Union.
This season had its ups and downs, but the Gaels achieved a lot to be proud of.
Iona earned a first-round bye in the MAAC Tournament for the sixth year in a row. The Gaels had two All-MAAC honorees: junior forward Kristina Ford and senior forward Anda Ivkovic. Six players earned recognition on the MAAC All-Academic Team: Suzi Fregosi, Catherine Lutz, Robin Felder, Milica Paligoric, Haley D’Angelo, and Jessica Scannell.
While emphasizing that this year’s success was a total team effort, the coaching staff distributed a number of individual awards at the banquet.
Senior guard Suzi Fregosi received the Scholar Athlete Award, presented by associate head coach Christi Abbate. Fregosi has earned a B.S. degree in biology and has already begun pursuing a Master’s degree in education. Fregosi has excelled in her rigorous coursework while also meeting the demands of playing college basketball. Fregosi has made the Dean’s List every semester and has earned distinction on the MAAC All-Academic Team every year in which she has been eligible for the honor.
Sophomore guard Haley D'Angelo received the Best Weightlifter Award, presented by strength and conditioning coach Conor Hughes. Hughes emphasized that this award goes beyond weightlifting, reflecting the recipient's outstanding commitment, preparation, and motivation in all of the team's workouts. D'Angelo has exhibited an outstanding work ethic, enduring the rigors of conditioning without complaining.
Head Coach Anthony Bozzella presented the Sixth Man Award to two recipients: Fr. Frank Dixon and Michael Sacks. Fr. Dixon serves as the Iona College Chaplain, and he is an avid fan of Iona women’s basketball. Sacks covered the team for The Ionian as an undergraduate, and he has remained a supporter of the program since graduating from Iona in 2008.
Freshman guard Jackie Marshall received the Unsung Player Award, presented by assistant coach Ashlee Kelly. Marshall has fully understood and embraced her role, appreciating the opportunity to be part of the team. Exemplifying her unselfishness, Marshall has made significant sacrifices for the betterment of her team and her family.
Senior guard Marissa Flagg received the Dr. Rosenberg Award, presented by Provost Dr. Warren Rosenberg, the program's moderator. Flagg plays hard, puts the team ahead of herself, trains hard, and demonstrates a commitment to academics. Flagg has a good attitude, exhibits perseverance, and has a smile that lights up a room.
Junior guard Tomica Bacic received the Most Consistent Player Award, presented by Coach Bozzella. Bacic has demonstrated consistency and stability – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Bacic has played a number of different positions and taken on a wide range of responsibilities, doing whatever it takes to help the team.
In addition to the awards, the evening also included a slideshow presentation prepared by Dr. Rosenberg. This slideshow featured numerous pictures from throughout the year. Dr. Rosenberg's expert photography captured the spirit of the season and portrayed the personalities of the team members. Dr. Rosenberg set the presentation to music, which reflected the mood of the pictures.
Coach Bozzella acknowledged the team's student-managers, who play a vital role in the program’s operation by performing many tasks behind the scenes. Coach Bozzella announced that senior Eric Alston, the head student-manager, will be joining the coaching staff next year as the video coordinator.
Near the end of the banquet, the Gaels paid tribute to the team’s three seniors: Flagg, Ivkovic, and Lutz. This senior class has had a spectacular run at Iona. Over the past four years, the Gaels have amassed 67 wins (an average of about 17 wins per year), advanced to three MAAC final fours, and participated in two postseason WNITs. Furthermore, these seniors have excelled academically and distinguished themselves as model citizens.
Coach Bozzella emphasized the program’s theme for next year: “We are … Iona.” This theme indicates the team’s unity, confidence, strong sense of identity, and pride in the program’s rich tradition.
The banquet featured an exquisite dinner and dessert.
It was truly a special evening for the Iona College women’s basketball program.

Powell, Dorcas-Eya Round Out Our 2011 Recruiting Class

Iona College women's basketball head coach Anthony Bozzella has announced the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent during the late signing period. Aleesha Powell, a 5'6" point guard from Philadelphia, PA and Jiya Dorcas-Eya, a 6'2" forward from Lagos, Nigeria will join the Gael squad for the 2011-12 season.

“I am so pleased that these two outstanding student-athletes have decided to join our family here at Iona," said assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ashlee Kelly. "Aleesha will bring a toughness and great leadership in the point guard role at Iona, and I feel Jiya brings so many intangibles that we need in the program, such as rebounding and blocking shots. She is a true competitor.”

Powell, who will graduate from William Penn Charter School, has averaged 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game for her career. She was named MVP during each of her four years at Penn Charter and had 1,510 total career points. Powell is ranked among the Top 100 for point guards in the Class of 2011 by ESPN HoopGurlz and is a McDonald’s All-American nominee. Powell started at point guard for the nationally ranked AAU Philadelphia Belles Nike Elite Team.

"I am really excited to have a player of Aleesha’s character and ability joining our Iona women’s basketball family,” Bozzella added. “I am sure she will follow in the footsteps in our great point guard tradition here at Iona.”

Dorcas-Eya, who will graduate from Northwest Florida State College, is known for her athleticism, rebounding and shot blocking. She helped NJCAA D1 Northwest Florida State to an impressive 24-7 record and an end of the season national ranking of #8. She ended her career at Northwest Florida State losing to undefeated and nationally #1 ranked Pensacola. She is one of five sophomores on her team to go on to play in Division I.

"I am so excited that Jiya has committed to our family. She is a wonderful young woman with tremendous personal qualities and values. I feel that she will have an immediate impact in our program and I am really excited to coach her during the next two years,” said Bozzella.

The duo rounds out the incoming class for 2011-2012, as they will join ESPNU’s Top 100 Nationally Ranked freshman guard Damika Martinez (Meriden, CT/O.H. Platt) and McDonald’s All-American nominee forward Briana Graham (Dearborn, MI/Martin Luther King), as newcomers for the Gaels next season.