Nine MAAC Student-Athletes Nominated for 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award
Edison, N.J. (July 15, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), in conjunction with the NCAA, announced today that nine MAAC female student-athletes have been nominated for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Eight MAAC institutions and six sports are represented in this year’s pool of nominees.
| Student-Athlete |
Institution |
Sport |
| Kara Paradowski |
Canisius College |
Softball |
| Manuela Nicolini |
Fairfield University |
Volleyball |
| Shannon Gleba |
Manhattan College |
Rowing |
| Courtney Warley |
Manhattan College |
Basketball |
| Nicole Ceraso |
Monmouth University |
Lacrosse |
| Lauren Paul |
Niagara University |
Lacrosse |
| Lindsay Bauer |
Rider University |
Track and Field |
| Taiah Thornton |
Saint Peter's University |
Basketball |
| Annie Brennan |
Siena College |
Lacrosse |
“The MAAC is incredibly honored to have this marvelous group of extraordinary female student-athletes representing the conference,” said MAAC Deputy Commissioner Jessica Grasso. “Their years of hard work, commitment, and growth both on the field and in the classroom will be remembered with this illustrious honor.”
The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics manages the nomination process and selections. This year, 535 college athletes were nominated. The nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, including 251 nominees from Division I, 107 from Division II and 177 from Division III. Nominees competed in 24 sports. Member schools are encouraged to honor their top graduating female college athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year Award. Schools can recognize two nominees if at least one is a woman of color or international student-athlete.
The MAAC will select up to two nominees from the pool above, with at least one being a woman of color or international-student athlete. All conference-level nominees are forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division. From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics then will choose the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
All school and conference nominees receive an NCAA certificate and will be recognized on
ncaa.org.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.