Date: Friday, October 25, 2002

DESMARAIS, MARTIN NAMED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ASSISTANTS

MEDFORD-- First-year Head Coach Carla Berube has chosen her assistant coaches for the upcoming Tufts University women's basketball season. Jackie Desmarais and Naomi Martin have joined the team, bringing experience to a young group and completing an exciting new coaching staff for the Jumbos. Martha Whiting also returns for her fourth season on the staff.

Naomi Martin is a 2000 graduate from NESCAC rival Amherst College. She played all four years at Amherst, from 1996-2000. In her final season, Martin led the conference in scoring with 18.7 points per game. She was named to the All-NESCAC First Team, and was a First Team All-NESCAC Defensive Team. After graduation, Naomi became an assistant coach for the Acton-Boxboro Regional High School team in Acton, MA from 2000-2002.

Jackie Desmarais played college basketball for the University of Vermont 1990-1994. During her four season there, the team had a combined record of 100 wins and 20 losses. Desmarias was selected to the America East Adacemic Honor Roll in 1992-93 and 1993-94. After graduating she coached the varsity team at Winooski HS in Vermont for the 1994-1995 season. Desmarias then made the jump to the college ranks, beginning a four-year stint as the assistant coach at New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University). During the 1999-2000 season Demarias assistant coached at Franklin Peirce Collge, and during the following year at Stonehill College.

Practice for the Jumbos' new season begins on November 1, with their first game against RPI in the MIT Tip-Off Tournament on the November 22. The conference season begins with Connecticut College at home on January 17.

Last season the team ended 9-14 overall, 1-8 in the NESCAC. The Jumbos are looking to rebound from the disappointments of last year and gain recognition within the conference and region. With the new leadership of Berube, Desmarias, and Martin, as well as the return of a solid group of upperclassmen, the Jumbos believe this season will be a success.

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