A higher education on the hardwood

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At least seven former Hawks and Greyhounds are enjoying successful basketball seasons at colleges and universities throughout New England. These players, who were all parts of strong teams at Woodland and Naugatuck, have all seen time on the floor this winter.

Sam LaCroce (Sr., Wesleyan University) is the second-leading scorer and rebounder for the Cardinals, which were 12-6 as of Wednesday. LaCroce, who was the second player in Woodland history to score 1,000 points, averages 10.5 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. The 6-foot forward from Prospect has played more than any player on the roster, averaging 29.1 minutes per night.

Anthony Mariano (Jr., Keene State College) is a key part of the Little East Conference-leading Owls, who were 15-4 as of Wednesday. The former Naugatuck star has started all but one game and averages 8.8 points per game, good for fifth on the team. Mariano is second in the team in minutes per game (23.6) and assists per game (2.2), and leads the team in steals (27).

Jen Fredericks (So., Daniel Webster College) has started all but one game for the Eagles, who are third in the New England Collegiate Conference with a 12-6 record as of Wednesday. Fredericks, who was a three-year varsity player at Woodland, averages the third-most minutes per game (30.1) while sitting fifth in assists per game (1.9) and sixth in scoring per game (4.9) and rebounds per game (3.4).

Jessica Webber (So., Post University) has appeared in 15 of 18 games for the Eagles, who have struggled to a 4-14 record as of Wednesday. Webber, who was Naugatuck’s most recent addition to the 1,000-point club, averages 9.7 minutes per game, 2.2 points per game, and 1.1 assists per game.

Yahmad Rountree (Fr., Becker College) has made an immediate impact for the Hawks, who lead the New England Collegiate Conference with a 14-4 record as of Wednesday. Rountree, a 6-foot-6 forward who last season led Woodland to its first postseason win in six years, has started 10 games and is fifth on the team with 8.1 points per game and third with 5.7 rebounds per game. Rountree also earned NECC Rookie of the Week honors on Jan. 23.

Heather Framski (Fr., St. Joseph College) is in the midst of an outstanding first season in West Hartford for the Blue Jays, which are fifth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference with a 12-6 record as of Wednesday. Framski, who is Woodland’s all-time leading scorer, has started all 18 games and is second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and leads the squad in rebounding (6.4 rpg). The 5-foot-10 forward also leads the team in field-goal percentage at 57.1 percent, which is also good for 14th in all of Division III. Earlier in January, Framski led the country with a 66.7 shot percentage en route to earning GNAC Rookie of the Week honors.

Lindsay Feducia (Fr., St. Joseph College) has also seen playing time for the Blue Jays and is one of seven players to appear in every game. Feducia, a former All-Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division point guard at Woodland, averages 15.1 minutes per game and 3.2 points per game. She has also averaged 2.0 rebounds per game and 1.7 assists per night.

Former Woodland star Heather Framski is averaging 13.6 points per game for St. Joseph College. – ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE ATHLETICS