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Academics, Athletics and Passion: Roxbury Community College Women's Basketball Players Accept Scholarship Offers from Southern Alabama University and the University of Bridgeport

Lindsay Borgen, Neighbor
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Roxbury, MA- Amanda Hoover joins a long and proud list of Roxbury Community College athletes who will be continuing their education and athletic careers as Division 1 athletes. The Lady Tiger’s Captain recently accepted a full scholarship to play basketball next year for the University of Southern Alabama. 

Her time on the court at Roxbury Community College was nothing short of remarkable. Last year as a freshman, she was part of an RCC Lady Tigers squad that rocked the Massachusetts Community College Athletic Association, with a conference-high 103 points-per-game, an NCJAA Division-III 5th ranking with 74 points per game and came in third place in the 2013 NJCAA D-III Women’s Basketball Championship.

This year, Hoover is averaging 18.8 PPG and 7.8 RPG, making her one of the top-scoring players in the conference and in the NJCAA. The 5’ 11” Forward from Columbus, Ohio was an invitee to the Junior College Showcase this past July and chose the University of Southern Alabama out of 12 different Division I offers, including the Northeastern Huskies. 

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Along with Amanda Hoover, teammate Nicole Spaulding will continue her education at a four-year college after graduating from Roxbury Community College in 2014.  Spaulding, a Poughkeepsie, NY native, has accepted a full scholarship from the University of Bridgeport to play basketball on the school’s NCAA Division II team.

The 6’ 1’’ Center is currently averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds per game; and on November 5th, Spaulding swept the scene when she scored 52 points for RCC in a 120-15 win over Lincoln, breaking the Division III records for points in a women’s basketball game. 

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Spaulding’s athletic career wasn’t the only thing that took off at Roxbury Community College: under the guise of Coach Mark Leszczyk, whose emphasis on academics and discipline permeates his coaching, Spaulding stated, “Academics first before you get to the athletic part.”

About Roxbury Community College:

Roxbury Community College, founded in 1973, is a two-year, state-supported, co-educational institution of higher learning offering Associate Degrees and certificates to members of the Greater Boston Community.  RCC currently offers 27 degree programs of study and 11 certificate programs.  Educational experiences in the classroom are complimented by those in athletics which promote discipline, teamwork, leadership and good sportsmanship.  RCC is also recognized as the first Junior College inducted into the N.E. Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.  In 2000, the RCC Men’s Basketball Team won the NJCAA Division III National Championship. In 2011 and 2012, the Women’s Basketball team played in the Division Championship game and were the runner-up both years.
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