Women's Basketball Goes in the Classroom for Five Week Junior Achievement Program

Women's Basketball Junior Achievement Video Recap




Women's Basketball Goes in the Classroom for Five Week Junior Achievement Program

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Hartford women's basketball team renewed their partnership with Junior Achievement this week by kicking off a five-week program with third graders at the Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School.

Six members of the women's basketball team received training to teach a specifically designed curriculum consisting of hands-on activities that allow the students to learn by doing. Designed by national experts in learning, activities are engaging, fun and comprehensive. All Junior Achievement lessons correlate to the state curriculum standard. The curriculum focuses on making students financially responsible, prepared for the workforce and entrepreneurially savvy.

"Our first day was really fun and went well," said senior Shanise Bultron. "The kids in the class were very excited to have basketball players teaching them for a little bit."

"Our five-week program will be very beneficial because it will allow them to get to know us personally. It's really important to develop a bond with them and it would be great if they wanted to come to some games and support us this season." 

Checking In with Coach Rizzotti at the World Championships

Today was the first day of the 2014 World Championships. This is what we've been preparing for the past three weeks. We've only had our full 12 member team together for three days but it's not a terrible thing when a 6-8 player that can dunk is the final piece of the puzzle. 

 

Because I'm one of the team scouts, I travelled to Ankara, Turkey this morning from Istanbul with Chris Dailey to watch the eight teams from the pools on the other side of the bracket. I was a little skeptical traveling away from the group, especially since our team plays their first game against China tonight but after what I just witnessed, I realized how special an experience this really is. I just finished watching France play the home team Turkey. The game started at 7 p.m. local time and the arena was packed by 6:30. I watched the introductions of both teams and then listened to 5,000 Turkish fans proudly sing/shout their teams National Anthem before the game started. It was pretty cool.
 

The game started out kind of slow, but when Turkey's most popular player hit a three to go up two with 47 seconds to play, I couldn't hear myself think. I'm not sure I've ever been in that kind of environment. And this is only the first game of the tournament!  It's going to be a fun ride and I'm so glad I get to be a part of it. Now, back to work! Brazil versus Czech Republic, coming up next!

Go USA! 

 

 

 

Alumni Player Profile: Kathy Behrens

Kathy Behrens graduated from the University of Hartford in 1985 with an extensive resume that included three years of playing tennis, two years playing basketball and a variety of accomplishments off the court such as serving on the senate her junior year and as the Student Government Association President as a senior.  Currently, Behrens is working with the NBA as the Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility & Player Programs.

This past May, the University of Hartford welcomed her back and presented her with the Vincent Brown Coffin Award (professional achievement by a former student athlete) at the 2014 Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner.

“It was a super fun night and great to be back with my friends & family,” described Behrens who recently took the time to reflect on her experiences. “I come back to the University fairly regularly because I’m on the Board of Regents, but to be able to experience the Hall of fame Dinner and go down memory lane was very special. I always think my sports background prepared me for after college because it’s a competitive environment and you have to deliver in a different way than you do on the court.”

Following college, Behrens wanted to learn the ins and outs of fundraising. She did so while working for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo for seven years in various capacities and also with United Way.  In 1995, Behrens began working as the executive director for New York Cares, a non-profit organization still near and dear to her heart.

In 2000 the NBA commissioner David Stern called Behrens, approaching her about becoming the Vice President of Community Relations for the NBA and she accepted.

“With basketball being a big part of my life, I thought it was a great opportunity and a great time in my life for a career change. I loved the sport and I understood how much of an emphasis the NBA wanted to place on community service and how much it values the work it’s players and teams do around the world.”

In fourteen years Behrens role with the NBA has changed and expanded. She has pioneered a number of important NBA community service initatives that have made a huge impact around the world. In 2005 she spearheaded the NBA Cares program, which she describes as “an umbrella to connect our players, teams and employee’s and capture the different things they were doing.” Through NBA Cares, the NBA & WNBA have traveled to over 900 places around the world renovating homes for veterans and the elderly, going into schools and Boys and Girls Clubs, and performing a “day of service” each year during the NBA All-Star Weekend. One of her proudest memories was the day of service in New Orleans’s after Hurricane Katrina. 

Behrens has developed and overseen numerous initiatives such as NBA Fit, a program to help children lead active and healthy lifestyles, Share Our Strengths, which provides children access to nutritious food and prevent hunger, and Basketball Without Boarders where NBA & WNBA players travel around the world growing the game of basketball and demonstrate the commitment to giving back. Under her leadership, the NBA & WNBA have also worked with programs focusing on ending homophobia in sports. 

“Respect, inclusion and diversity are things we feel really strongly about,” explained Behrens.

Despite her tireless work and busy travel schedule, Behrens still finds time to give back and support the University of Hartford.

“I loved the University of Hartford and I still come back and participate because I’m still connected. I made life long friends. The things I did athletically and with the student government were transformative for me.”

Behrens also credits the University of Hartford for distinguishing a culture of giving back to the community. “Being a leader in the community is part of the culture at Hartford. It’s not just about the people your helping, it’s also important for the people doing the helping. It’s a real differentiator for Hartford and it can really change the culture your trying to create when community service is in your DNA.”

 

 

Christie Michals Summer Blog – It’s Not Just Work, It’s Philanthropy

This summer has been very exciting and full of great opportunities. 

I have had the chance to work an internship position at the Newman’s Own Foundation, where I am currently working with my former teammate, Alex Hall. The foundation is based on philanthropy and they donate all of the profits from Newman’s Own Inc. to charities all around the world. My job at the foundation has included researching, organizing, and creating briefing documents on a number of small projects.

I was also fortunate to participate in a business trip with Newman’s Own to New York City, where I helped the foundation with a conference they hosted for other small businesses that also donate their entire profits to charity.

What I enjoy most about my internship is being a part of a company that does so much good for others. My temporary job with them is much bigger than myself; I thoroughly enjoy working for a company that works for an amazing cause by helping others.

Another thing I thoroughly enjoy is being with my team. Summer session is an amazing opportunity for putting in hard work in the classroom, on the basketball court, and in the weight room. It is so helpful to have all the players and coaches together with a common goal of getting better and spending time together.

This is a great adjustment period for the new freshman. Everyone is fitting in perfectly and we are catching them up to the new speed of college basketball. Being back on campus with the team is such a blast and an amazing privilege to be able to continue our scholastic studies as well as coming together as a unit. The girls have been amazing, everyone is extremely focused, working hard, and having a great time together. This is a great beginning to what will be a great year for Hartford Women’s Basketball.

Teammate Reflections of Erika Messam

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 -

"I am very grateful I had the opportunity to play three years with Erika Messam. Erika was such a great player, she made everyone around her that much better. The talent, aggression, and skill she brought to the court was just completely unmatched. I'll never forget playing pick up and always having to guard her. She would talk so much trash to everyone so we would all get mad and play harder. Some days those pick up games felt like the America East championship. No matter how hard we competed against each other on the court we always remained great friends and that is something I will always cherish. The impact Erika made at the University of Hartford will be talked about for a very long time and I can't think of anyone more deserving to be inducted into the Hall of Fame."

- Ikea Witt, Class of 2007

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 -

My fondest memories of playing basketball with Erika Messam were those rare instances in practice when I actually thought I'd tired her out and might be able to accomplish something...anything! Like get a pass off, drive towards the basket, maybe hit a shot, or steal the ball from her when she was on offense.

You have to understand I was often Erika's personal practice partner who got the glorious job of "trying" (notice the quotes) to stop her. My mentality most practices was to attempt to cheat into those passing lanes or "first" options in a play, as I knew every play our red team (starters) were attempting to run. This worked on some teammates...but not Erika.

She was the queen of giving a defender "false hope" because she'd put her hands on her hips and breath heavy and look all tired after scoring or doing a ton of work to get a teammate a wide open shot and you'd start to think, "Okay, I have a chance now...she's tired."

Then Coach Rizz would switch things up and put her on the white team, which I was always excited about no matter how beat she looked. Because that was the thing about Erika Messam, no matter what team she was on they would win...and she loved a challenge! Four starters on the red and her with the white team and she'd start going off (yes, this is right after her hands were on her hips and she looked exhausted).

The best part about being on the same team with Erika was how good she'd make you feel when you did something well. There was no bigger trash talker on our team, but there was also no bigger cheerleader. If you did something well she just about bowled you over with a hug (or one of her stinging high fives) and you couldn't help but grin from ear to ear because she also let you know when you were messing up (in an encouraging...motivating...get it together kind of way).

She read people well, knew how to motivate and totally lead by example on the floor. There wasn't anyone who played with the kind of tenacity that Erika did and we all respected her for it. That's probably why Coach Rizz made her our captain. She was a tenacious, competitive, winner...and we certainly did win during her time at Hartford I couldn't think of a more deserving person to go into the Hall of Fame. Congratulations E!

- Kate (DiDonato) DeLoureiro, Class of 2007


Friday, May 9, 2014 -

Erika was an unwavering teammate. No matter what was going on in her world, she kept it off the court and left her heart on the court. I couldn't think of a more deserving individual for this award-a wonderful player, teammate, mother and person. Like many of the players and friends at Hartford, I consider her a forever friend. With life after Hartford, she has been a sister, mentor and friend. From post player to point guard, much love, respect and honor for this achievement.
- Tanika Price, Class of 2005

Where are they Now? – Nikkia Smith --- Bringing Hartford Basketball to the Nation’s Capital

I can’t believe it has been almost a full year since graduating! But boy what a crazy and exciting year it has been.

 

After graduating last May, my Aunt graciously opened her home in Bloomfield to me, allowing me to live there through the summer. I continued working at Farmington Valley Transition Academy as a one to one specialist through the end of June.

 

At the end of August, I officially said goodbye to Connecticut and moved to Washington, D.C. for graduate school. Over the past eight months I have been working as the Graduate Assistant/Assistant Coach for the women’s basketball team and working on my Masters in Public Administration at Gallaudet University. Gallaudet is a private institution for the deaf and hard of hearing in the heart of D.C.

 

Competing at the NCAA Division III level, Gallaudet competes in the Northeastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). This past season the women’s basketball team finished 15-12 overall and made it to the NEAC tournament semifinals for the first time since 2010-11. Needless to say, it was a really exciting year for our program!

Attending Gallaudet has been a dream of mine for many years. I have truly been blessed with this opportunity to further my education and continue to be involved with basketball at the collegiate level as a coach. Living in D.C. has truly been amazing. I’ve had to make friends outside of sports, use public transportation and even live with people I didn’t know in advance! I know all these probably sound like minor accomplishments, but after being surrounded by wonderful teammates (who had cars) and were also easy to get along with, these are basically major milestones in life.

The players and staff of Gallaudet’s many athletic teams have taken me under their wings. They teach me new signs every day and challenge me even when I’m extremely uncomfortable. I have been able to transfer so many intangibles from what I learned at Hartford. It shocks me sometimes at how similar I sound to my coaches at Hartford.

I knew my coaches were smart while I was there, but they’re even smarter now that I can use some of the very same sayings I heard on a regular basis and see the impact it has on my players. Having the experience of being a Hawk has taught me more about life and management then I could have ever imagined. I am grateful everyday for all the experiences I have had.  

 

Final Four Creates Lifetime Memories: Alyssa Englert's Nashville Final Four Blog

VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH ALYSSA & COACH RIZZOTTI

Wow, the Final Four was quite the experience of a lifetime! I’ve never had so much fun doing so many different activities in an incredible city. If you have never been to a Final Four and are debating on whether it’s worth it to go or not…IT IS!

Sunday was my first full day in Nashville. I started off the morning by attending a “meet and greet” with Beth Bass, the current Chief Executive Officer of the WBCA, with the other nine members of the Good Works Team and their parents/guests.

Beth invited all of us up to her suite in the morning just to better acquaint each of us and congratulate us on making the Good Works Team. It was amazing to hear all the extraordinary things the other girls had done to be involved in their community and even further than their local area. Many of the girls were a Big Sister or Buddy program for 3-4 years like I have been, some helped out at
homeless shelters, and many had run basketball camps.

Several girls had gone to other countries such as Brazil and South Africa to complete missions and/or run educational programs for a few weeks. I thought that was truly remarkable. Not only did some of the girls reach out to their local communities, they also traveled out to third world countries and gave back. Like myself, some of the other Good Works Team members have been impacted somehow by cancer.

One of the team members worked with a nine-year old girl battling leukemia, another had been involved in breast cancer awareness events and helped to raise money towards research. I was blown away by the resume's of my Good Works Team members.

Later that day the ten of us went over to “Tourney Town” to hand out awards to groups in the Nashville area that had given back to their community. These included some local Boys & Girls Clubs, church groups, and YMCA’s. Each group got their award and the representatives went down the line to shake the hands of the 10 Good Works Team members. The kids were so excited and honored to shake our hands which was very cute.

Next up…GAME TIME BABYYY! We gathered in the hotel lobby and walked over together to the Bridgestone Arena to watch the Final Four games. First up, #4 Maryland vs. #1 Notre Dame, who was undefeated. What a great first game to get the night started! Notre Dame had so much talent at the guard position and couldn’t miss! They ended up getting an easy 20+ point victory over Maryland in the end.

Next up was #1 UConn, also undefeated of course, vs. #1 Stanford. UConn is probably the toughest team in the country. So disciplined and relentless to the point where
they seem invincible. This was a very special game because just after halftime, myself and the rest of the 2014 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team were recognized on court.  We walked onto the court during one of the timeouts and were individually announced. This was a truly a wonderful for me because the gym was filled with 85% UConn fans who knew of the University of Hartford. So when my name was announced there was a roaring ovation from the crowd! I couldn’t believe it, it was amazing to hear so many people cheering for me, I’ve never had such a big smile on my face.

The next day was an early morning as we got up to celebrate Allstate WBCA Good Works Day.  We spent almost all day at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. When we first got their we introduced ourselves and got to meet a lot of the staff and directors as they talked a little bit about the hospital and some of its goals and initiatives. Then Allstate and the 10 of us got to present the hospital with a $10,000 check! They were all so happy and grateful and talked about all the great things they could put the money towards. After that we spent the next hour or so assembling over 300 “Wellness Kits” that included a water bottle, hand sanitizer, lotion, chap-stick, sunscreen, and a stress ball all put into a cold-insulated zip-up lunch bag.

We then broke up into three teams and walked around different areas of the hospital to distribute them and visit with patients. I have never been around so many wonderful people in my entire life. I felt so blessed to be able to visit and talk with each of the patients that I had met. They were so kind and courageous going through what was probably the toughest obstacle in their life. But yet, they were so excited and honored to see us. I felt like it was the other way around because I was the one that felt excited and fortunate. The Team and I spent the next couple hours or so walking around the hospital delivering the Wellness Kits and talking basketball smack about the men’s and women’s tournament. After walking around and visiting, all of the staff, directors, Allstate representatives and the Team sat down for lunch and shared a little bit about ourselves. We concluded with a movie that the hospital had made about surviving cancer, living your life to its fullest, and having hope. The entire day at the hospital was so moving and heartfelt. I couldn’t help but be inspired by everyone there. Patients, staff, administrators, everyone was part of this incredible family and I was so glad we were able to go there as part of Good Works Day. Such an amazing time!

That evening was the WBCA Awards Show. We were lucky enough to be announced with the Naismith and Wade Trophy winners and Coach of the Year. Plenty of decorated athletes and coaches were in attendance including Coach Rizzotti who actually presented the Wade Trophy winner. It was a privilege to be in the presence of so many basketball greats.

Tuesday was my final day in Nashville. This was a day filled with a lot more down time until the afternoon. Around 2:30p.m. we all went over to Tourney Town for an autograph session. I felt like a celebrity up on stage signing posters and basketballs for young players and families, getting my picture taken, and having people congratulate me. I was so surprised on how many people were in line to get our autographs but I was so happy and once again had a huge smile on my face.

That evening was the national championship game. The best part of course…watching UConn celebrate as they had claimed there ninth National Championship! I had watched the game many times before on TV, but to be there in person was so cool! Watching the team jumping on each other, jumping on Coach Auriemma, holding up the trophy, and cutting down the nets was thrilling. I felt so lucky to be there and watch it all happen in person.

That concluded my time at the Final Four in Nashville. I know I’ve said it a hundred times before but what an AMAZING experience. Between receiving the award and being involved in all the great things I did while I was down there, I couldn’t ask for anything better. I am so grateful to Allstate for the opportunity and for accommodating me and my parents on our trip. I would also like to thank the WBCA for selecting me as one of five Division I players to be on the Team. And of course to everyone at the University of Hartford that nominated me. It was one of the best experiences of my life and it makes every minute of community service I have ever done, and will continue to do in the future, truly worth it. Again, thank you to everyone that made this all possible for me. I am honored to be a part of the 2014 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team!

Player Profile: Deanna Mayza '17

Deanna Mayza was raised in a family of athletes.  Mayza’s parents both have backgrounds in basketball.  Her father is a coach who set school records as a college player and her mom was a skilled athlete in multiple sports.

“My dad is the coach of a boys’ team and whenever they needed a 10th player I always got to play with them,” said Mayza, a freshman point guard for the University of Hartford women’s basketball team.

Mayza’s older brother, Tim, excels in baseball and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays last year.  He was one of the boys on their father’s team. “Having an older brother around meant I always played with the guys.  My dad and brother have been the most influential people for me as an athlete.  Having my brother there the whole time I was growing up, beating me up in the backyard, just made me tougher.  My dad is the one that got me playing basketball and always helped me work on my skills.”

The strong competition in her formative years only helped Mayza flourish.  By the beginning of her junior year at The Hill School in Pennsylvania, she was being contacted by several colleges.  Mayza, who went on to set records as the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball (1,222 points) and soccer (67 goals), says the University of Hartford was the one institution that made sure to stay in touch with her beyond the initial contact.

“A lot of the schools just make contact once and then you don’t hear from them again whereas the coaches at Hartford just continued to stay in touch with me throughout the process.  My brother looked at Hartford when he was considering schools so I knew a little bit about it,” said Mayza. 

Mayza wasn’t sure what degree she wanted to pursue and saw that as an important consideration in addition to the opportunity to play basketball.  “I thought that Hartford offered the most options for me to consider since I didn’t know exactly what I wanted.  The coaching staff is great too and knowing coach Rizzotti was here made me want to pursue it. 

With her being a point guard in college and playing in the WNBA it made me want to come here and learn from the best.”
Mayza lived on campus during her senior year at The Hill School, so she was used to being away from home.  Still, she says she has already learned quite a bit in just one semester at Hartford.  As a Division I student-athlete she sees the importance of budgeting her time well.

“During the season we don’t have a lot of free time.  There is a lot to juggle just between classes and playing basketball.  The coaches always make sure that we have time for study hall, even when we’re on the road.  I’m learning how important it is to be proactive with my professors so that I can get things done before we go on a road trip.”

One of the best parts about her basketball experience so far is not what happens on the court, it’s the team camaraderie.

“Our team chemistry off the court is great.  Everyone hangs out and we all have a good time together.  We have a little more free time during the winter break when there are no other students on campus so we’re always together.  We’re either playing Rock Band or doing something else outside of basketball.  We just have fun with each other.”

One of the things the team does off the court is community service work.  It’s something Mayza says she has always enjoyed.

“When I was in high school I used to help out my Dad with youth programs.  We would do basketball clinics and I loved it.  Now that I’m here we’re doing things like going to children’s hospitals.  We go to elementary schools and read to the kids and talk to them.  It’s always nice to spend time with them.”

Mayza describes herself as “feisty” and as a successful student-athlete, it’s not surprising to hear that she’s very competitive both on and off the court.  As a freshman she still has plenty of time to decide on a future career path but she already has a pretty good idea of what she wants to try first.

“Seeing my older brother get drafted and knowing that he is going to live his dream in baseball makes me want to do the same.  Playing somewhere professionally has always been a dream and something I want to pursue.  Whether it’s academics or pursuing something else I feel like I have this drive to do well.  I know that will help me going forward.”

For now, Mayza is enjoying life as a collegian.  Her basketball skills and ambition make it clear that she will be a valuable asset for her Hartford team, and perhaps for a professional team one day in the future. 

 

 

 

 

 

Where are they Now? – Tanika Price --- Making A Difference

The University of Hartford and Coach Rizzotti prepared me for the real world-both during and after college. It was the best of basketball, academics, friends & family, and FUN all in one place.

Now, I work for a non-profit organization named CAMBA, which is one of N.Y. and the United States’ largest non-profit organizations. You can find out more info here: www.camba.org. My title is Assistant Director for the Flatbush site of CAMBA. I deal mostly with curricula, budgets for youth & community development as well as implementation of programming. Ironically, I make a return to my roots as my office is located in and services the neighborhood I grew up in. On any given day, we assist anywhere from 1,000-1,200 individuals by bringing them completely free services. 

Our group was recently able to secure a grant for the Brooklyn (Flatbush) area in the form of 1.2 million dollars, which will be used to fund 5-6 projects for the betterment of the community. I would like to use this money for bolstering and implementation of more STEM initiatives, a new computer/technology lab and more academic and athletic based programming.

At my site, we have a wealth of program offerings for children, youth and adults. Some of our programs include:

For Adults:

Financial literacy, GED and ESL, first time homebuyer classes, Computers, Citizenship, Immigration and Legal advice. Also providing small business and loan classes, etc.

For Teens:

A new project called Collegiate Express (specifically for 9th graders) that will put them on the path to college with tutors, mentors, academic monitoring and STEM initiatives. We also have youth council and leadership programs as well as a stellar boys’ basketball team.

For Youth:

Homework help & afterschool programming, STEM initiatives, filmmaking partnerships with the Tribeca Film Festival (our student produced work won an MTV Halo Award and secured $20,000 for a school in Flatbush as well as a $10,000 award for one of our students), karate, acting with Kimball Studios, which is one of the groups that write for Conan Obrien and a number of other TV programs, and of course a really good girls team. I am proud to say that my two Girls teams (ages 10-12 and 13-15) are not only borough champions but NYC champions.

Some of my favorite memories at Hartford have helped to grow and shape the woman I am today. I remember after missing a practice, the coaches held me accountable and I had to run suicides. For any wrongdoings, the coaches held me accountable for my actions. Now, I can appreciate this in a huge way. They didn’t always tell or teach me the lesson I wanted, but rather taught/told me the lesson I NEEDED to hear.

The University has a family-friendly atmosphere, FUN campus living and lasting connections. The Flight Zone is just the BOMB! PERIOD! Hands down they are the best group of dedicated individuals and sports fans I have ever met. I miss them! I had a great time on campus too!

 

Where are they Now? – Danielle Wexler --- Building a Family

After living in New York the past two years I am currently living in Wallingford, Conn. with my husband and baby daughter, Michaela. My life took a dramatic turn last spring when my husband and I welcomed our first child. She has changed our lives in the best way possible.

I love living here; it is such a great place and love not having to commute over an hour to work. My husband was very lucky to have landed a head football job at Maloney High School, while also teaching math at the high school.

I am going into my fourth year as an assistant women's basketball coach at Quinnipiac University. I love coaching and it’s a beautiful place to work. I really wouldn't ask for a better environment to be in. I love coaching the girls and seeing how they develop into young women.

Looking back at my experience as a Hartford Hawk, my favorite memory is beating Temple in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Player Profile: Cherelle Moore '15

If you were to walk by and look into the Chase Family Arena this summer, there’s a pretty good chance you would have seen forward Cherelle Moore '15 taking extra shots. Moore, a Bridgeport, Conn. native, dedicated the off-season to getting in the best basketball shape of her life while completing her summer classes at the University of Hartford.

"Getting in shape was the main goal for me over the summer," said Moore. "My basketball IQ is there, but I realized that I needed to get in shape to become a better player. I worked really hard on improving my basketball skills."

"This was a big off-season for Cherelle and she took full advantage of her opportunity to work hard and get in great shape," said Coach Rizzotti. "She was always a good athlete but she took a step forward when she shed her self-imposed physical limitations."

Moore, a six-foot junior forward with the ability to play the wing or post position, emerged as consistent rebounder for the Hawks down the stretch of last season. She became a key player in the lineup and helped lead the Hawks to the America East championship game. Her teammates and coaches voted Moore the most improved player after the season.

Now an upperclassman, Moore is determined to become more of a scoring threat and leader for the Hawks. “I always want to be a leader on and off the court and I’m hoping to have my teammates be able to look up to me when they need something,” said Moore. “On the court I want to be an offensive threat to our opponents.”

"The confidence Cherelle has in herself right now has correlated to her being more of a vocal leader," Rizzotti added. "She knows she’s an upperclassman now and this is her time to lead by example as well. After two years, she has learned what it means to be fully committed and she is a terrific example to the young players of what working hard and making mental adjustments can do for individual growth."

Moore is excited about the potential her team has this season and is determined to win the conference championship. “With our depth and fast-paced style, we want to be able to run teams out of the gym this year,” explained Moore. "We know what it takes to get to the championship game—it hurt losing in it last year, but it fueled us, and we are coming back angry and determined to be the last team standing."

Hartford opens the season on November 9 against the defending national champion UConn Huskies.

Where are they Now? – Kacey Pratt --- Finding Paradise

After graduation I moved back home to Rochester, N.Y. for a few months before moving across the country to sunny Southern California.  I am currently living in Huntington Beach which is located in Orange County, Calif.  I now know why people leave the east coast and never come back because the weather in Southern California is unbelievable!  I live about a mile from the beach so no complaints here.

 

My dad always told me if you find something you love, you will never work a day in your life, and now I know what he means!  I absolutely love what I do, and have met some of my best friends at my job. I am currently teaching special education at a middle school located in Long Beach, Calif.  This is my second full year teaching, after starting mid-year my first year, teaching the last four months of school. 

 

Last year, I also coached the middle school girl’s basketball team which was an awesome experience because I truly miss playing and being around the game. So, it was nice to get back into it!  Although now I understand Coach Rizzotti’s frustration of not being able to put on a jersey and play!

 

The most exciting thing that has happened recently is that my parents moved from upstate New York to Arizona.  After only seeing them two or three times a year for the past five years, I now get to see them at least two or three times a month.  They are only a five hour drive away, or a quick plane ride.  Having them out here and being able to catch up for lost time has been amazing.

 

My favorite memory as a Hawk goes beyond all the wins and losses.  The best part about being a Hawk is the second family that you acquire while you are there and long after. I have met some of my very best friends while at Hartford and have met people that will hold a very special place in my heart forever.  I know Grandpa Jim is going to be reading this, so I have to give a shout out! Love you Jim!!

Where Are They Now? - Katie Kelley - International Adventurer

I am currently living and working in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. After graduating from the University of Hartford in 2009, I moved back home to Syracuse N.Y. and worked as an assistant coach for the Onondaga Community College women’s basketball team. We went 35-1 that season and advanced to the NJCAA National Championship. That summer I also served as the head coach in the Empire State Games and coached the Central Region girls basketball team the championship gold medal game.

In September 2010 I joined my former Hartford teammate Marylynne Schaefer In Leimen, Germany to play basketball. I played one season of professional basketball, but the following summer I tore my ACL. I moved back to Syracuse and worked in the admissions office of OCC. Last year, I applied and was hired by The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) as a National Test Center Administrator here in the United Arab Emirates.

Now, I am enjoying life and learning a new culture in Abu Dhabi! I’ve been working and living here since January. I was able to take some time this summer and travel to Paris, Frankfurt, Las Vegas and  of course Hartford! It was great to be reunited with some of my Hawk family back in Hartford. 

Where are they Now? - Bridget Murray - Playing in the Big Time

I am currently living in Voorheesville, NY, which is where I grew up.  After graduating from college, I was a little bit of a nomad.  I have been in the insurance industry since I graduated from college in 2004.  I spent some time right after graduation in Hartford and then transferred with work to Boston.  From there, I again transferred for work to Washington DC.  In 2009, I moved to New York City.  Then I got the opportunity to work for my family’s insurance agency, The Murray Group, in 2011 and moved back home.  I love living here.  It's great to have familiarity and be surrounded by family.  It also means I'm closer to Hartford so I can go see more games! It’s fun working with my family, and despite what many people may think it's not difficult to be surrounded by and working with family all week.  I like that I can reach out to the people I know in the local community and work with them on a daily basis.

I got married in June, 2012 and was so happy to have many former teammates and Coach Rizz and Sully attend. One of my favorite post college memories involving Hartford was when Sully started break dancing at my wedding! My older brother recently had twin boys, and my twin sister Lauren (who is known by many in the Hartford family) is due with a boy in November.  Lots of boys - we may be able to make a basketball team soon!

My favorite memory as a Hartford Hawk was warming up for the first round of the NCAA tournament in Oklahoma City.  It was the first time the women's team ever made it to the tourney, and it was the first time that there was a sellout in the arena we were playing in of over 12,000+ fans.  I distinctly remember shooting around right before the game, and then all of a sudden the Oklahoma band started playing and the team ran out on the court.  It felt like a big-time place to be playing. I really miss the good ol' days at UHa, but I'm glad I've been able to stay in touch with so many friends who really are like "family".  It's been fun going to teammates' weddings and hearing about their new babies

Where Are they Now? --- Erica Beverly's Proudest Moment

After graduating from the University of Hartford in 2010 and working as the Director of Basketball Operations in 2011 at Hartford, I had the chance to play basketball professionally in Switzerland and Australia. Now, I am living in South Jersey with my husband, Andre Thomas and I love it! It is a change from the city life,  but everyone who knows me knows I love my southern roots. I am currently pursuing my cosmetology license at Empire Beauty School and will complete my license by November! I have a lot of passion for cosmetology and love that there are so many different ventures you can go into such as hairstyling, being an esthetician or nail artist.  I’m very excited about having the chance to pursue this passion and looking forward to seeing what my future holds!

I got married on June 15^th 2013 to my husband Andre in Burlington City, NJ at Tabernacle Baptist Church! It was such a beautiful and sunny day that the Lord blessed us with. We had our family and friends, including many former Hartford teammates, with us for the celebration and we couldn’t have asked for a better day! From the design of my dress, our aisle runner, to the church décor and my brooch bouquet and even the groom and best man pants, our entire wedding was so unique and special and I enjoyed planning it. I was very pleased with how it turned out and it was so much fun. My wedding day is one of my proudest moments.

I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my experiences as a Hartford Hawk and I have to say my favorite memories are the bonds with my Hartford family (coaches, teammates, fan’s and the staff I worked with at Hartford). The most profound part of the bond is that it still exists today! I’ll also never forget after I tore my ACL at the beginning of my sophomore year when Coach Rizzotti sat me down at the end of the season and explained to me that a NCAA rule change would now grant me a red-shirt year (originally we didn’t think it would be a possibility). That moment was so important because I could see the joy in Coach Rizzotti’s eyes and we both started to cry. I felt as if she was treating me as one of her own children. I was so filled with appreciation and determination to recover from my injury and make our program proud.

 

 

 

 

Where Are They Now?: MaryLynne Schaefer - Dreams Do Come True

Like most kids, I imagined on a regular basis what I wanted to be when I got older and had to begin life in the “Real World”. Whether it was a firefighter, actor, lawyer, ice cream shop owner (oh, just me?), journalist, teacher, professional athlete, or coach; you imagined it and hoped it would become a reality one day. In about seventh grade, with four years of basketball under my belt I knew I wanted to try and make basketball my future and not just my present. I began thinking big picture. Could I play in college? Could I play professionally? If I can’t play forever, will I be good enough to coach? I know what you are thinking, ‘really in seventh grade you thought about all of this’? If you know anything about me, planning and goal setting is what I do. Maybe it’s the military background from my dad that instilled this way of thinking for me, but I am glad I have it.

My time at Hartford went by extremely too fast. We won America East Championships and made the post season year after year!  In addition, we beat Top 25 ranked opponents each of those years, including 5th ranked Duke my senior year; but I built relationships with great people and created lasting memories. After graduating in 2009, I was fortunate enough to spend two years playing professionally in Leimen, Germany. I won a championship, met amazing people, learned to speak another language and spent my last season playing with former college teammate and roommate, Katie Kelley. Living in another country and experiencing a completely different culture from what I grew up with, is something I will never forget.

Here I am now, four years graduated and approximately 1,401 miles from Hartford and living in sunny Miami with a daily view of the ocean (unfortunately I am still working on that tan ... might be a lost cause, but I won’t give up). I am entering my third year working at the University of Miami and second year as their Video Coordinator. During my time on staff, we have traveled to Alaska, appeared in back-to-back NCAA tournaments, and watched seniors achieve their goals of getting drafted and competing in the WNBA and abroad. On a daily basis I am learning from an exceptional staff, led by Head Coach, Katie Meier. As a student-athlete I knew my coaches worked hard to prepare us for the upcoming season, practice, and opponent, but I didn’t truly learn to appreciate everything they did until I was on the same side as them. There is so much additional preparation and non-court related responsibilities coaches and staff have on a daily basis. I didn’t fully understand those responsibilities until I found myself doing some of those intangibles. Working at Miami has allowed me to learn unconditionally and appreciate how much work Coach Rizzotti and everyone else on the staff at Hartford did while I was there.

In November, the 1,401 miles will shorten when Coach Rizzotti and the Hawks come down to compete in our Thanksgiving tournament. Not only do I look forward to their arrival, but hopefully Sully will be able to fit in a game of horse (like the ‘old’ days) when he isn’t found playing a few holes of golf.  I would never change the path I have taken to what I am currently doing because at the end of the day I love working toward achieving what the seventh grade me set out to do.

 

Where Are They Now?: Mary Silvia Travels the Globe with SeriousFun Children's Network

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
-Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You’ll Go

When I graduated in 2011 I did not expect to stay in Connecticut, but what do you know?! I live in New Haven and work in Westport, and couldn’t be happier! In November 2011 I started at SeriousFun Children’s Network, a nonprofit network of camps and programs for children with medical conditions (some of you may be familiar with The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp—that’s how it all started). In my current position, I work with our Global Partnership Programs, where we partner with local organizations in different countries and train them to lead and operate camp programs. So far, this amazing job has taken me to India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Botswana. Over the past 5 months, I have had the privilege of connecting and working with the most lovely people all over the world. I’ve eaten foods that I could not identify, I’ve gone days without a warm shower, I’ve become accustomed to sweating buckets in 120 degree heat, I’ve learned how to say hello and thank you in 4 different languages, and I’m currently in the midst of my longest trip of two months. These things are not in everyone’s comfort zone, but all of this is such a natural fit for me and I am fully infected with the travel bug.

I have spent 10 of the last 24 weeks abroad—travel is the name of the game this year. However, I am able to keep in pretty close contact with my family and friends, and a trip to my parents is always first on the list when I return. Before leaving for this trip, I had the good fortune of going down to Knoxville for Coach’s induction and it was an honor to be part of that special occasion. And when I get home in August, I will see Jenna Peterson again, returning from her 18 month mission in Argentina!

Attached are some photos from my trips, everything from wearing a sari in India to Leadership Team training in Botswana! When I travel, I keep a blog…or at least I try to when I have a wifi connection. Feel free to check it out: http://marytookawalk.blogspot.com

Mary

Former Hawk Talks about International Experience

Africa was a life changing and eye opening experience for me! Going into this trip, Tanika (former Hartford player and Assistant Coach) didn't give me too much information because she wanted me to have my own experience. Though all of her stories from having gone three times to various countries were quite hysterical; she had me nervous but also anxious to get on the flight as soon as possible to see what it was she was talking about!

Sierra Leon was beautiful in ways that I couldn't have ever imagined. But the one thing I wasn't prepared for was immediately being put up against challenges of running camp that I never thought would be an issue. For instance, going to a different country in which basketball isn't their main sport, finding an indoor court was impossible. This was because one simply didn't exist! So improvising became my greatest skill and teaching the girls basketball without a hoop became something that was quite normal for me.

Despite teaching the girls everything there was to learn without having them shoot at a basket until Thursday of camp, it was such a fun experience simply because of their desire to learn and master the game of basketball. They constantly wanted me showing them new moves, how to dribble properly, what a defensive stance really looked like and what it meant to really push themselves to the next level. These girls quickly learned what the word hustle meant and really tried their best to meet the standard in which we held them to!

Being that these girls had never touched a basketball prior to this experience, what they knew at the end of the week and could physically do compared to the first day of camp, it was evident that we were against all odds and managed to come out on top! They went away with a love for the game of basketball!

A few things in between camp that were amazing and unforgettable were the side trips that I got to take while there. These consisted of being able to meet the president of Sierra Leon, his wife and also the Vice President and his wife. On one occasion we received an invitation to the First Ladies home. She wanted to formally thank us for coming to the country and empowering women in such a positive and educational way.

This was a trip and group of young women that I will never forget and who all have had a major impact on my life. F3B has given me an experience and opportunity that was truly amazing and I am so grateful for. This was a trip of a lifetime and I will always look back with fond memories that make me both laugh and cry. Sierra Leon and Senegal are gorgeous places that have taught me so much and I will be forever changed by the experience.

Keyokah