Dec. 24, 2010

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - On July 28, Rachele Fitz of the women's basketball team was named MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year. Fitz became the first Red Fox to win the award since Alisa Kresge captured it as a senior in 2007.

The award was truly a fitting way to cap Fitz's spectacular career at Marist, and her vast achievements on the court and in the classroom. In the 2010 calendar year alone, she accomplished the following:

- Will become the first Marist women's basketball player to have her jersey retired, as announced at Senior Day on Feb. 21.
- Became Marist's all-time leading rebounder.
- Became the first Red Fox to secure 1,000 rebounds in her career, finishing with 1,066.
- Finished her career with 2,447 points, the second-highest total in MAAC history.
- Named MAAC Player of the Year for an unprecedented third straight year.
- Became the first Red Fox to be named MAAC Tournament MVP twice.
- Played in her fourth NCAA Tournament.
- Named AP Honorable Mention All-American for the second straight year.
- Named Third Team Academic All-American by CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine.
- Named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Fitz is currently playing basketball professionally in Luxembourg.

Below is the July 28, 2010 release with the announcement of Fitz's award:

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July 28, 2010 - Recent Marist graduate Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) of the Marist women's basketball team was named the 2009-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women's Student-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday. The first player in conference history to be Player of the Year three times, Fitz will become the first women's basketball player to have her number retired next season. She is Marist's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Fitz was a three-time MAAC Player of the Year from 2007-10, the Rookie of the Year in 2006-07 and a 14-time MAAC Player of the Week selection. She finished her Marist career second in the conference in scoring with 2,447 career points complemented by 1,066 rebounds. She is the first player in Marist women's basketball history with over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

"This award is a very fitting end to her career," Marist women's basketball head coach Brian Giorgis said. "When she done she's still getting awards. She did extremely well in her major and did extremely well on and off the court. Rachele is a tremendous ambassador for Marist College."

Athletically, Fitz was a two-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American in 2008-09 and 2009-10, a preseason and midseason Wooden Award candidate in 2008-09, the 2008-09 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year, was twice selected to the Met Basketball Writers Association First Team and was named to the Naismith Preseason Watch List as a senior. Fitz was named the MAAC Tournament MVP in 2007, her freshman season, and 2010, her senior year. As a sophomore and junior, Fitz was a member of the All-Tournament Team.

She finished her career as the all-time record holder in seven statistical categories: points (2,447), rebounds (1,066), field goals made (905), free throws made (663), field goal percentage (.582), free throw percentage (.847) and games played (137). During her time with the Red Foxes, Marist achieved a record of 116-21, a winning percentage of .847. Marist won three NCAA Tournament games during Fitz's four seasons in the Hudson River Valley. The team reached the Sweet 16 in 2007, where it met Tennessee in Dayton, Ohio. The Red Foxes also won their first round game in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, a 76-57 first round victory over Big East opponent DePaul.

"Rachele is extremely deserving of this honor for her record-setting performances on the court, her achievements in the classroom, and the way she conducted herself as a student athlete," Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "The success of our women's basketball program over the last four years helped Marist and the MAAC earn invaluable national exposure."

Fitz continued on the path to success in the classroom as well. She graduated from Marist in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. She was a three-time MAAC All-Academic selection, a three-time member of the MAAC Academic Honor Roll, a two-time ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors (CoSIDA) First Team All-District selection. During her senior season she became Marist's 10th all-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, a third team choice, on Feb. 23, 2010.

As part of the requirements for a degree in fashion design from Marist, Fitz had a number of garments appear in the Silver Needle Fashion Show. The Silver Needle Fashion Show is held every spring to showcase the talents of student designers. The attendance of the shows exceeds 2,000 people annually.

Iona College's Ryan Sheridan of the cross country and track and field programs won the 2010 MAAC Men's Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Marist men's tennis player Loic Sessagesimi (Blonay, Switzerland) was given an honorable mention for the men's award.

About The MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year Award
The MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award began in 2001 as a means to recognize overall excellence in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community. Each MAAC member selected one male and one female nominee for the honor. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 overall grade point average, be in their second year of residence at the institution, and be a starter or important reserve on their team.