Date: Monday, February 28, 2000
FOUR JUMBO BASKETBALL PLAYERS HONORED BY NESCAC
MEDFORD – Two players each from the Tufts University men's and women's basketball teams were honored today as the New England Small College Athletic Conference All-Star teams and Rookies of the Year were announced.
On the men's side, junior forward Fred Pedroletti (Miami, FL/Gulliver Prep) was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team and freshman Brian Shapiro (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) was selected as Rookie of the Year. For the women, senior forward Molly Baker (Northfield, MA/Pioneer Valley) was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team and freshman center Emily Goodman (Briarcliff, NY) was picked to the Second Team as well as earning Rookie of the Year.
Pedroletti averaged 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 54.6 percent from the field (136/249, fourth best in NESCAC) in 23 games during the regular season. He scored 18 points with 10 rebounds at Colby on January 18, had 19 points with eight boards and the winning basket at Hamilton on February 5, and 20 points with nine rebounds at Middlebury on Feb. 19.
Shapiro proved in his freshman season that he is a player to watch. He finished the year averaging 6.9 points per game with 27 three-pointers, but his smooth shooting stroke and quickness to the basket suggest many more points are to come. His best league games this year were 14 points (4 for 4 on threes) versus Wesleyan on Feb. 11 and 12 points at Bowdoin on Saturday (Feb. 26).
Head coach Bob Sheldon's men's team (18-6) earned the fourth seed in the ECAC New England Playoffs and host fifth seed Worcester State at Cousens Gym on Wednesday night.
Baker capped her career by averaging 12.3 points and 9.4 rebounds (third-best in NESCAC) for head coach Janice Savitz's women's team. She had numerous double-doubles versus NESCAC opponents, including 18 points and 18 rebounds at Wesleyan on Feb. 7 and 20 points with 15 rebounds in a big win versus Williams on Feb. 18. She averaged 10.6 rebounds in league games.
Goodman proved to be one of the top first-year players in the country. She led the Jumbos and was second in NESCAC with 17.2 points per game. She led the league in free throw shooting with her 76.9 percentage (80/104) and was third in NESCAC with a 53.9 field goal percentage (158/293). Against NESCAC foes, she had 27 points and 14 rebounds at Amherst on Jan. 28 and 24 points at Connecticut College on Feb. 12.
The Tufts women finished 15-8, the most wins by the program since the 1991-92 season.
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