CLAIRE RAMONAS TO JOIN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

WESTON, Mass.—Regis College women’s basketball coach Julie Plant announced Tuesday that Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine/Deering) would join the women’s basketball team this winter. Ramonas was named a Falmouth Forecaster Outstanding Female Winter Athlete of the Year, and named to the Bangor Daily News and Maine Sunday Telegram All-State First Teams.

Ramonas was a four-year starter for Deering High where she was the lone captain of the team. She helped Deering to a 75-9 record, including three consecutive western Maine finals appearances, and a back-to-back Class A State Championships (2008 and 2009).

Ramonas was an anchor in Deering’s 37-game winning streak, and an undefeated 22-0 season in 2009. She led Deering High in just about every major category during her senior year. Ramonas averaged 9 rebounds per game, and 5 steals and assists per game.

Her individual recognitions include being a Maine McDonald’s Game All-Star, named to the Bangor Daily News All-State First Team, Maine Sunday Telegram All-State First Team, and both the SMAA All-Defense and conference First teams.

“Claire is one of my most versatile recruits,” says Plant. “Her ability to score, rebound, and distribute the ball makes her an immediate impact player.”

Ramonas will join a Regis College women’s basketball team that reached the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) semifinals game during the 2009-10 season.

The team had not achieved such an accomplishment since the mid-1990s when it also won The Commonwealth Coast Conference championship. The path to the ECAC tournament came from a conference quarterfinal victory over Wentworth, followed by a 73-66 TCCC semifinal victory over conference foe Endicott College, which Regis lost to in the 2008-09 quarterfinals.

In a hard fought conference championship battle against the University of New England, Regis lost to the Nor’easters 75-62. After receiving an ECAC invitation, Regis defeated Worcester State College in the quarterfinals, before losing to Plymouth State in the semifinals game hosted at Keene State College. Regis will return eight of 10 players from last season, losing just one player to graduation.