Women's Basketball Trio Earns GNAC All-Conference Honors
WINTHROP, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team saw three players named to the All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) teams, the conference front office unveiled Tuesday afternoon. Graduate student forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) headlined the flock of Blue Jays, being named to the All-GNAC Second Team. Graduate student guard Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) and senior guard Maya Slisz (New Britain, Conn.) joined Ouellete in earning All-Conference recognition, as both Verboven and Slisz recieved a nod to the All-GNAC Third Team. Graduate student forward Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) added to the list of accolades for USJ, being selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team. The awards are voted upon by the league's 15 head coaches.
Ouellette was a force to be reckoned with all season long for the Blue Jays, pacing the team with a career-high 19.2 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per contest. This season, the graduate student forward has been lethal from the floor, posting a 58.6% field goal percentage, which is the eighth-best clip in the country. Ouellette has also drained 241 total field goals, which are the fifth-most in the country. She has etched her name into the USJ record book, as she currently stands as the all-time leading rebounder in program history. Ouellette can also become the all-time leading scorer in USJ history, needing only 12 points to break Stacy Manfredi's mark of 1,806 career points. The conference accolade is the third in her illustrious career, after being named to the All-GNAC Third Team two years ago and the All-GNAC First Team last season.
Verboven has continued to be a do-it-all guard for USJ in 2024-25, posting a career-high 15.4 points per game, while also hauling in 6.3 rebounds and dishing out 2.9 assists per game. The graduate student has been efficient shooting the ball this season, ranking 38th in the NCAA with a 50.9% field goal percentage. Verboven also became the 12th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career point milestone. The All-GNAC Third Team nod is the first career all-conference accolade in her career.
Slisz has also enjoyed a career year in her senior campaign, posting career-high marks of 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. The New Britain, Conn. native etched her name into the record book, as her 136 assists this season are currently the most assists in a single-season in program history. Slisz has a chance to become the all-time career assists leader in the NCAA Tournament, as she currently needs two assists to pass Val Briggs, who finished her career with 345 total assists. Currently, Slisz is ninth in the NCAA in total assists (136) and 21st in assists per game. Scoring wise, Slisz eclipsed the 1,000 career point milestone earlier this season, becoming the 11th member in program history to achieve the feat. The All-GNAC Third Team nod is her second career all-conference accolade after being named to the All-GNAC Third Team a year ago.
For the complete list of all-conference honorees, major award winners, and all-sportsmanship selections, please see below.
Player of the Year: Lyric Grumblatt, Rivier
Def. Player of the Year: Jakara Murray-Leach, Albertus Magnus
Rookie of the Year: Grace Jaffray, Johnson & Wales
Coach of the Year: Dino Porcic, Johnson & Wales
Institutional Sportsmanship Award: Mitchell College
FIRST TEAM
Caitlyn Scott, Albertus Magnus
Marinique Reddin, Anna Maria
Grace Jaffray, Johnson & Wales
Lyric Grumblatt, Rivier
Angelica Hurley, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
SECOND TEAM
Diamond White, Albertus Magnus
Brianne Foley, Johnson & Wales
Isabella Suero, Johnson & Wales
Grace Ramsdell, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Jordan Ouellette, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
THIRD TEAM
Jakara Murray-Leach, Albertus Magnus
Maren McGinn, Norwich
Madi Zancan, Regis
Maya Slisz, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Taylor Verboven, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Albertus Magnus: Sharaya Keele
Anna Maria: Arianna Gonzalez
Colby-Sawyer: Molly Denis
Dean: Alexandria Paquet
Elms: Jenny Gorski
Emmanuel: Megan Reilly
Johnson & Wales: Mikayla Caruso
Lasell: Jasmine Depina
Mitchell: Krysten Lucas
New England College: Zaniya Moody
Norwich: Mallorie Chalmers
Regis: Isabella George
Rivier: Sydney Perry
Saint Joseph's (Maine): Mackenzie Currie
Saint Joseph (Conn.): Olivia Heslin
About The GNAC
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
Follow USJ Athletics
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays