Riverdale, N.Y. (January 23, 2006)--Celebrating its silver anniversary, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference recently announced its 25th Anniversary Women's Basketball Team, and three former Lady Jaspers made the list. The program's top three all-time leading scorers Sheila Tighe '84, Rosalee Mason '04, and Gina Somma '96 represented Manhattan amongst the MAAC's all-time greats.
Tighe, who was inducted into the Manhattan Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, is one of only three players in conference history to earn MAAC Player of the Year Honors in back-to-back years. She captured the accolade for her efforts during the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons, while helping Manhattan to a 36-21 record over that two-year span. During her four years wearing the Kelly Green and White, Tighe amassed a whopping 2,412 points, which still stands at the top of Manhattan's all-time scoring list. Tighe also ranks first in Lady Jasper history with 310 career steals. As a senior, this three-time First Team All-MAAC member earned All-American Honors.
During her senior campaign, Somma helped Manhattan capture its third-ever MAAC Championship by netting 768 points, which is the most ever scored by a Manhattan player in a single season. During that championship season, Somma also garnered MAAC Player of the Year Honors and tied Tighe by making a record 18 field goals in a game against Fairleigh Dickinson. During the stellar season, Somma also accumulated a record eight MAAC Player of the Week awards. As a sophomore and junior, Somma earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team. For her career, she tallied 1,838 points, third on the Lady Jasper all-time list.
With 1,875 career points and 1,217 rebounds, Mason is the only Lady Jasper in program history to record over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. She is the program's all-time leading rebounder, and her point total stands second in Manhattan history. During her junior season (2002-03), Mason led Manhattan to its fourth-ever MAAC Championship. During that championship year, Mason set a Manhattan single-game record by hauling in 25 rebounds in a game against Fairfield. Mason is a two-time All-MAAC Tournament selection (2002, 2003), a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection (2002, 2003, 2004) and was a member of the 2001 MAAC All-Rookie Team.
Currently in its 28th season of varsity competition, Manhattan Women's Basketball is 4-4 in MAAC play, and is next in action at Iona on January 27 at 7:30 p.m.
