LaPointe Named To NCAA Student-Athlete Engagement Group

Indianapolis, IN - Manhattan sophomore Emily LaPointe (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island Academy) has been named the MAAC representative to the newly formed NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group, which will serve as an amplifying voice for women's basketball on key initiatives, legislation and various issues.

The group, which was formed in collaboration with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), is the first of its kind at the NCAA and will have a direct connection to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, while also serving as a conduit of information from and to the WBCA.

"It's an honor to be chosen for this group and to represent the MAAC," said LaPointe, the 2019-20 unanimous MAAC Rookie of the Year. "It's a group that's extremely important, and I'm really happy the NCAA put it together. There are a lot of issues that need to be discussed, and our voices need to be heard."

The Student-Athlete Engagement Group consists of current NCAA Division I women's basketball student-athletes from all 32 conferences who were nominated through the WBCA NCAA Division I Conference Captains program that includes a head coach or "captain" in each conference with whom the WBCA communicates regularly on important issues. Each captain submitted the name of a player from their team or conference who they believed would be a good representative for all women's basketball players in their conference. The term of service for each student-athlete will coincide with athletics eligibility for competition. The group will meet monthly via teleconference/videoconference.

"This is such an important time for us to provide a forum for women's basketball student-athletes across the country to talk to one another and for us to listen," said Lynn Holzman, vice president of women's basketball at the NCAA. "In support of the women's basketball strategic plan, we will listen to what is important and happening with our student-athletes, and we will listen to their advice about the ongoing growth and development of our sport."

This past March, LaPointe became the third Jasper to earn MAAC Rookie of the Year honors and the first unanimous selection in Manhattan women's basketball history. She was also a unanimous selection to the MAAC All-Rookie Team after leading the Jaspers in scoring with 12.5 points per game this season, ranking 13th in the league. Her 1.9 threes per game placed her in sixth in the conference, while her 30.7 minutes played per game ranked her among the MAAC's top 20. LaPointe led the Jasper offense in 14 games, recording double-digit scoring in 22 of her 29 games played. Against Canisius on January 2, she scored a career-high 25 points, one of her two 20+ scoring performances of the season. 

LaPointe was Manhattan's first Rookie of the Year honoree since Tiffany Schetting was named Co-Rookie of the Year for the 1999-2000 season. With eight MAAC Rookie of the Week awards last season, she tied 2016-17 Rookie of the Year and three-time First Team All-MAAC honoree Rebekah Hand (Marist) for the fifth-most rookie weekly awards in MAAC history. She was also named to the All-Met Third Team by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association in April.

"As a part of this new group, I want to make sure I am vocal, and that my teammates and fellow MAAC players are heard," said LaPointe. "My main goal is that I can step up as a leader, and I hope we make an impact."

Read more about the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group HERE.