WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS EIGHT STUDENT-ATHLETES TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

May 05, 2010

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS EIGHT STUDENT-ATHLETES TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

SMITHFIELD, RI – Bryant University women’s basketball head coach Mary Burke is pleased to announce the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to enroll and participate in women's basketball at the University this fall. The announcement was made Wednesday, May 5th, by Coach Burke and Director of Athletics Bill Smith.

Joining the Bulldog squad are guards Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.), Steph Cardamone (Freehold, N.J.), Nekole Jackson (Columbus, N.J.) and Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.). Also joining the Bryant arsenal are utility players Demetria Bell (Braintree, Mass.) and Mary Kate Tierney (Rochester, N.Y.) as well as post players Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ontario) and Caitlyn Bassett (Harrisburg, Pa.).

Coming off a 13-win season, Bryant will begin its third season of its four-year transition to full Division I membership. The school will officially become a member of the Northeast Conference in the fall of 2012. Last season, the Bulldogs were 10-8 against NEC opponents.

Naana Ankoma-Mensa                   F       6-0        Brampton, ON / St. Marguerite d’Youville Before Bryant: A four-year starter for the Panthers basketball team… Accumulated a career record of 92-11… Captain of her team in 2006, 07 and 09… Named athlete of the week twice… Played in All-Canada Classic in 2008 and 2009… Started every game for the Panthers… Also a four-year letterwinner in track, soccer and volleyball… Earned highest mark in a subject… Recipient of the Principals Award… Member of drama and leadership clubs.

Personal: The daughter of Nana-Yaw and Comfort Ankoma-Mensa, Naana Adowa Ankoma-Mensa was born October 19, 1992… Has one brother, Kofi, and one sister, Mame-Yaa, who plays basketball at Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y… Plans to major in business law at Bryant.

Jenniqua “Jay” S. Bailey         PG          5-6       Bloomfield, Conn. / Northwest Catholic HS
Before Bryant: A four-year starter at point guard for the Indians... Won two conference championships under Head Coach Karl Herbert… Led her team to a 25-1 record her senior year and a CCC West Conference Championship… Won the Northwest Conference Championship in 2007-08… Two-time team MVP… Named first team all-state her senior year and all-conference all four seasons… Class LL/L All-Star Game MVP… Avon Christmas Tournament MVP and champion… Will play in JCC All-Star Game… 1,000 point scorer… Led her team in scoring and assists all four seasons… Also received one varsity outdoor track letter… Recipient of the Algebra I Award… Member of Black History Club, Freshman Contact and Student Council.

Personal: The daughter of Sandra Feurtado and Walford Bailey, Jenniqua S. Bailey was born February 24, 1992 in Hartford, Conn… Has two brothers, James Brown and Walford Bailey Jr, and two sisters, Jessica Feurtado and Wallica Bailey… Plans to enter Bryant as undecided.

Caitlyn Bassett                  F/C                  6-3                   Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin
Before Bryant: A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the Rams…  A McDonald’s All-American nominee… Won four Mid-Penn League Championships… Won two district and one state championship under Head Coach Bill Wolf… Named to Patriot News Big 15 and Mid-Pennsylvania All-State Team… Member of National Honor Society.

Personal: The daughter of Fred and Shannon Bassett, Caitlyn Nicole Bassett was born April 17, 1992 in Harrisburg, Pa… Plans to enter Bryant as undecided.

Demetria Bell                G/F                 6-0                       Braintree, Mass. / Tabor Academy
Before Bryant: A four-year letterwinner on the Seawolves basketball team… A McDonald’s All-American finalist… Named to NEPSAC All-Star and Boston Globe All-Scholastic teams in 2009-10… Won the Class A NEPSAC championship in 2009-10… Two-time team MVP… Named MVP of NEPSAC her senior year… Team captain… Also earned four varsity letters in cross country and was team captain her senior year… Participated in band and dance at Tabor.

Personal: The daughter of Gus Irby and Wanda Bell, Demetria Areonna Bell was born March 3, 1991 in Boston, Mass… Plans to enter Bryant as undecided.

Steph Cardamone              G                 5-10             Freehold, N.J. / Freehold Township HS
Before Bryant: A four-year starter at guard on the Patriots basketball team… Three-time Kuhnert Christmas Tournament champions… Qualified for Shore Conference and New Jersey State Tournament three consecutive years… Captain of her team… Holds school record for most games played and most 3-pointers in a season… Member of USAA1 Junior Olympic Team… Won coaches’ award and FTHS Female Athlete of the Year Award… Three-time all-division player… Three-time All-Shore Coaches’ first-team… Two-time member of Kuhnert Tournament All-Star Team… Shore Conference All-Star team member… Member of AAU Jersey Sting… Finished ranked 7th in the nation… Winners of nine consecutive state championships… DECA and ADAPT member.

Personal: The daughter of Sero and Carry Cardamone, Stephanie Phala-Ann Cadramone was born April 27, 1992 in Anaheim, California… Her father, Sero, played DI baseball at LaSalle University… Has one brother, Nicholas… Plans to major in communications at Bryant.

Nekole Jackson                    G                5-11                        Columbus, N.J. / Peddie School
Before Bryant: A four-year starter at shooting guard for the Falcons… Won the MAPL and NJISAA championship as well as the ESPN RISE National Championship her senior year… Won the Coaches’ Award in 2010… Named to ESPN All-Tournament team and MVP of the championship game… Named to Trenton Time All-Star Team in 2010… Named first team all-prep her senior year, third team all-prep her junior year and was an honorable mention sophomore year… A three-year letterwinner in field hockey… Named first team all-prep her junior year and second-teamin her sophomore season… Named team MVP both seasons… Received coaches’ award junior year and was named first team mercer county… Also earned one letter in track and field… Was a sports editor for the Peddie News.

Personal: The daughter of Jeffrey and Arlene Jackson, Nekole Ariel Jackson was born October 30, 1992 in Montclair, N.J… Plans to major in communications/journalism at Bryant.

Courtney Schissler           G                  5-9                             Branford, Conn. / Branford HS
Before Bryant: A four-year letterwinner for the Hornet basketball team… Won the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship her senior year, finishing with a 22-5 overall record under Coach Ted Kaczynski… Three-time all-division, all-area and all-county team… SCC MVP in 2010… Named CHSCA All Star Game MVP in 2010… First-team all-state in 2010… Finished with 1,705 points in her career, ranking second in school history… Also earned one letter in swimming, four in tennis and one in volleyball… Named all-conference in swimming in 2006… Earned all-area honors in volleyball in 2009… Named to all-area and all-division team in 2009 for tennis… Finished with high honors at Branford… Member of Youth in Government and Women’s Clubs.

Personal: The daughter of Mark and Karin Schissler, Courtney Ann Schissler was born October 21, 1991 in New Haven, Conn… Plans to major in communications at Bryant.

Mary Kate Tierney     G/F        5-10                                            Rochester, N.Y. / Mercy HS
Before Bryant: A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter on the Lions basketball team… Two-time winner of the Private-Parochial League… Won the Section V Championship in 2010, finishing with a 19-3 record… Two-time First-Team All-Greater Rochester… Named 2010 Class AA Section V Tournament MVP… Two-time Rochester Private-Parochial League Player of the Year... Member of the 2008 Empire State Team… Mercy finished ranked eighth in the state in 2010… Averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game in 2010… Scored a career-high 40 points against Aquinas in January 2010… 1,000 point scorer… Four-year letterwinner in soccer… Member of the honor role all four years… Western New York Scholastic Team Member… Participated in Youth and Government.

Personal: The daughter of Steve and Sonya Tierney, Mary Katherine Tierney was born January 2, 1992 in Rochester, N.Y… Plans to enter Bryant as undecided.