West Hartford, CT - University of Hartford women's basketball coach Jennifer Rizzotti announced the signing of four student-athletes who will continue the tradition of women's basketball at Hartford starting with the 2009-10 season. Two Connecticut athletes, Daphne Elliott (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) and Nikia Smith (Montville, CT/Montville) will join four returning Connecticut natives, while Ruthanne Doherty (Richmond, VA/L.C. Bird) and Alexandra Hall (Pembroke, NH/Pembroke Academy) join them in the class of 2013.
“Other than their talent, what excites me the most about this recruiting class is their competitiveness,” stated Rizzotti. “They wanted to come to Hartford to win championships and I have no doubt they will work hard to continue the tradition already established.”
Hall, a 5' 7” guard, is the all-time scoring leader for girl's basketball at Pembroke Academy. Hall played her first two years of high school ball at Trinity High School. In her first two seasons she averaged 11.5 points-per-game and extended that average to 27.6 ppg in her first year at Pembroke. She has broken the school record for points in a single game twice with 40 points, the first against Merrimack Valley and again against Stark. Hall has also set the single season record for points with 551. She was named 2008 Class I First Team All-State, 2007 Class L Second Team All-State. She was also named the most valuable player at Trinity in 2007 and Pembroke in 2008.
Coach Rizzotti on Hall: “Alex is a savvy scoring point guard. She has the ability to get to the basket as well as shoot the three and that makes her dangerous in the open court. I also love that she is tough and competitive and that will help her fit in with the guards in our program.”
Doherty is a 5'11” forward who led L.C. Bird to the Dominion District and Central Region Championship in 2008 and 2007 with records of 24-6 in 2008 and 26-4 in 2007. She has been named Player of the Year, First Team and All-Academic in the Central Region AAA, the Dominion District and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Doherty has averaged double digit points in her first three seasons at 12 points-per game as a freshman, 13.8 as a sophomore and 19.1 as a junior. She also surpassed the 1,000 points mark in her junior season. Doherty is a two-sport athlete also competing in track and field where she was the Central Region and Dominion District champion in the discus throw and second place in the shot put.
Coach Rizzotti on Doherty: “Ruthanne has the kind of athleticism that will help us compete on a national level. She can dominate the glass and score or get fouled around the basket. When she adds the face-up game in college, she will be our opponents' nightmare.”
Smith is a 6'1” forward who recently broke the 1,000 point plateau and is poised to graduate as the all-time leading scorer in boys or girls basketball history at Montville High School. Smith has averaged double figure points in two of her previous three seasons, including more than 16 points-per-game as a junior, to go along with 12.7 rebounds-per-game. As a sophomore she averaged 14.4 ppg and 9.7 rpg and as a freshman she averaged 9.8 ppg and 8.2 rpg. She has received All-ECC honors and was nominated to play in the McDonalds All-Star game.
Coach Rizzotti on Smith: “Establishing a low-post scoring presence is what has allowed us to be so successful over the past four to five years. Nikia is next in line to be our imposing force on the blocks. Along with being a great rebounder, she also has a great touch and consistent shot from the perimeter. Her toughness and physicality will be welcomed additions to the program.”
Elliott is a 5'6” guard who broke a pair of school record, while surpassing the 1,000 point plateau in her junior season at Fairfield Warde High School last season. Earlier this season, Elliott also became the all-time scoring leading in school history for girl's basketball and is currently ranked second in the state for scoring, averaging 25.1 points-per-game in her senior season. She scored 392 points, averaging 17.4 ppg, while averaging 4.2 assists-per-game, 5.5 steals-per-game, 6.5 rebounds-per-game and scoring 83 percent of her free throws last year. This season, she broke two single game records for points scored (40) and three pointers made with nine. She was named a First Team All-FCIAC as a sophomore and junior and named Connecticut High School Coaches Association First Team All-State in 2006.
Coach Rizzotti on Elliott: “Daphne's energy and personality will make her a fan favorite at Hartford. She has the versatility to play the point or off-guard position. The consistency she has shown in her three point shooting is a bonus when added to her quickness, intelligence and defensive ability.”
