UMass Lowell Athletics

O[apos]NEIL ON VALENTINE: [quote]Rahshala is going to have to run the team for us. She will be our coach on the floor. She[apos]s a competitor. She handles the pressure well and gets the ball from point A to point B very well.[quote] AS A JUNIOR: Played and started in all 27 games for the River Hawks, averaging 32.5 minutes per game • Season highs include eight assists in a 68-63 loss at Bloomfield; 22 points in an 84-79 loss at St. Rose; five steals in a 62-59 loss against Stonehill. AS A SOPHOMORE: One of two players to start all 27 games • Ranked among Northeast-10 Conference leaders in two categories, including assists (7th, 3.7) and assist-turnover ratio (8th, 1.12) • Shattered UML[apos]s record for assists in a single game with 14 in a 76-67 victory over Merrimack (besting the previous mark of 13 by Marsha Blalock in 1997) • Other season-highs include 19 points in an 80-74 overtime loss to Stonehill; eight rebounds in a 62-50 win at Merrimack and a 60-51 loss to Bryant; and three steals three times. AS A FRESHMAN: Immediate impact player, started all but one game • Ranked ninth among Northeast-10 Conference leaders in minutes played with a team-high 32.4 • Broke the school record for assists in a season by a freshman (80), formerly held by Marsha Blalock (1995-96 - 77) and Doreen Thibault (1981-82 - 77) • Season-highs include 12 points in a 66-64 overtime win against Saint Anselm; seven assists, along with 10 points and eight rebounds, in a 59-55 win over Dowling; and four steals twice. URSULINE ACADEMY: Four-year player, three-year starter for coach Tim McGee (former Cincinnati Bengal) at Ursuline Academy • Greater Girls Catholic League First Team standout as a senior • Named captain as a senior • Posted averages of 13.0 points and 6.0 assists per game • Honorable mention all-GGCL standout as a junior • Member of the soccer team as a freshman and sophomore • Also played for the Dayton Lady Hoopsters and All-Ohio club teams. PERSONAL: Oldest of four children of Jerry Valentine and Ericka Jones of Cincinnati, OH • Nicknamed [quote]Shala[quote] • Lists Miami Heat as favorite NBA team • Favorite players include Allen Iverson, Dwayne Wade.