2009-2010 NJCAA Division III Preseason Rank 11th 

2008-2009 NJCAA DIVISION III NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

2009 NJCAA Division III National Tournament - 8th Place 

Welcome to the home page for the University of Connecticut at Avery Point Women's Basketball Team. Avery Point is a member of Region 21 in the NJCAA Division III.    Please click on "schedules" on the left side of this page to see upcoming games or to see results and recaps of previously played games.  You can also click here for Schedules/Results and Statistics from the NJCAA Women's Basketball site.  For up-to-the-date information regarding NJCAA Athletics, check out the brand-new weekly webcast NJCAA 360.  To read about our players click "roster" on the sidebar menu.  This website is updated regularly and will provide current information on the program. Interested in playing for the Pointers... click here.

2008-09 Season Recap

The University of Connecticut at Avery Point Women's Basketball Team enjoyed the best season in program history during the 2008-09 campaign. The Pointers finished with a 23-9 mark, setting a new program high in wins. UCAP also won the program's first Region XXI Championship by defeating Roxbury Community College 61-58 in overtime. With the win over RCC, the Pointers advanced to the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Tournament as the District F representative.

The Pointers entered the National Tournament as the 7-seed of the eight-team tournament. UCAP played great defensively but struggled on the offensive end and dropped their three tournament games to finish 8th in the country. Avery Point enjoyed a successful regular season as they posted an impressive 14-2 Region 21 West Divisional record to claim the second-seed in the Regional Tournament. The Pointers also traveled to Albany, NY and defeated Albany College of Pharmacy, a NCAA Division III program.

Leading the way all season for Avery Point was freshman point guard Karen Manning (Bolton, CT). Manning led the team in scoring (15.4 per/game), assists (4.2), and steals (4.2) on her way to being named to the All-Region 21 First Team. With 492 points, 135 assists, and 134 steals in 2008-09, Manning rewrote the single-season record book. In just one season of work she also set Avery Point Women's Basketball career marks with her assist and steal totals.

Sophomore forward Kristen Woodring (Bristol, RI) finished out her career with the Pointers as the all-time leading scorer (508 points), rebounder (550), and shot blocker (166) in program history. Woodring has also played in the most games in Pointers history with 57 and has a two-year career record of 40-18. Woodring finishes with career averages of 8.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as she was named to the All-Region 21 Second Team following a honorable mention selection as a freshman.

Joining Woodring on the All-Region 21 Second Team was freshman guard Sarah Paternostro (South Glastonbury, CT). Paternostro was second on the team in scoring (10.6 points per game), and assists (3.5) as she teamed with Manning to form a tough backcourt that returns next season. Paternostro was also third on the team with 39 made three-point field goals.

Sophomore Crista Peterson closes out her two-year career with the Pointers as the second-leading rebounder in program history. Her 315 rebounds trail only fellow sophomore Woodring. Peterson finishes ranked fourth all-time in scoring with 465 points and has played in the second most games (56) in Pointers history and compiled a 40-18 record during her two seasons.

Avery Point got excellent contributions from the entire freshmen class as every player on the roster registered at least 100 points on the season. Brianna Reilly (Hopkinton, RI) finished as the third-leading scorer with 10.5 points per game average and was second on the team in rebounding, averaging 6.3 per game. Reilly also played well on the defensive end collecting 71 steals and 47 blocked shots for the Pointers. Natalie Smith (Manchester, CT) averaged 7.8 points per game and set a single-season record with 57 made three-point field goals and is only three shy of the career record (60). Kaitlyn Kozlowski (Shelton, CT) and Brittany Demers (East Windsor, CT) played important roles in the backcourt for UCAP providing support both on the offensive and defensive sides of the floor. Kozlowski added 4.9 points per game and grabbed 4.3 rebounds. Demers pulled in 3.2 rebounds and scored just under five points per game. Alyssa Blakley (Bristol, CT) provided depth in the frontcourt seeing action in 31 games and contributing 107 points and 117 rebounds.

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Looking to continue your playing career into college...

Our typical recruit is someone who does well in the classroom, is a good person and wants the opportunity to play basketball as a college freshman without having to play behind juniors and seniors.  After two years at Avery Point, student-athletes have the choice to relocate to Storrs or to transfer to an NCAA school and play immediately.  Our campus offers many general education classes that almost every college student must take.  Credits earned at Avery Point are transferrable to other universities. Contact Head Coach Nate Stailey for more information either by email averypointwomensbasketball@gmail.com or by phone at (203) 530-3978.