BRIDGEPORT, CT — Former Saint Rose women’s basketball National Player of the Year Kristiana Kandere (’97) is one of six individuals who make up the inaugural class of the East Coast Conference’s Hall of Fame. Clyde Doughty, Jr. (NYIT Athletic Director), Morten Jensen (Dowling men’s soccer student-athlete), Jack Kaley (NYIT Head Coach – men’s lacrosse), David Kelly (LIU Post men’s lacrosse student-athlete), and Vincent Salamone (LIU Post Athletic Director) comprise the remainder of the class.
Kandere, who was inducted into The College of Saint Rose Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, is one of the most decorated women’s basketball student-athletes in conference history. Kandere led the Golden Knights to four straight New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC – name of the conference before rebranding to ECC) Championships and a 114-12 (.905 winning percentage) career record.
Her name is littered throughout the conference’s record book as she currently ranks fifth in points (1,975), sixth in blocks (212), and third in field goals made (788). She also is the conference’s all-time leader with 1,333 rebounds and holds the league’s single-season record of 412 rebounds. Kandere, who compiled career averages of 15.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, was a three-time All-American with two first-team selections. She also earned the Division II Bulletin National Player of the Year honor after the 1997-98 season.
Kandere furthermore earned numerous conference honors. She was honored as the NYCAC Player of the Year in each of her last three seasons, was tabbed the conference’s Rookie of the Year in 1994-95, and was a four-time; first-team All-League pick. She was also a four-time Daktronics first-team, All-Region honoree. She still stands as the Saint Rose all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and is also first in free throws made (412) and second in blocks. A superlative student as well, Kandere was honored as the GTE/CoSIDA National Academic All-America® Player of the Year as a senior.
-David Alexander/Saint Rose Sports Information
