NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The 2014-15 All-Met Division III Women’s college basketball teams were announced Tuesday by the Met Basketball Writers Association (MBWA), and The College of New Rochelle senior forward Jah-Leah Ellis (Harlem, NY/Hun School of Princeton) has been selected to the Third Team. Ellis is the first Blue Angel to ever be selected to this prestigious regional all-star team.
The senior adds this honor to the D3hoops.com Third Team All-East, Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Player of the Year and Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) Player of the Year accolades she has already received this year, capping a memorable final season in New Rochelle.
“Jah-Leah had a great impact on our program,” said Head Coach Joan Sanchez. “Her leadership and passion was contagious. She plays with tremendous passion on a daily basis. She earned every award and recognition she gathered this year, as on the court she earned every point and rebound with the attitude of a champion.”
Ellis averaged 20.2 points, 15.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.9 steals per game while recording double-doubles in 20 of her 23 games. She tallied a career-high 35 points in a win over College at Old Westbury, and nearly recorded the program’s first triple-double with a 28 point, 27 rebound, nine assist, four steal and three block performance in a win over Yeshiva University. The forward and pulled down 20 or more rebounds six times, including back-to-back 27 rebound games. The 27 rebounds were a DIII single-game high for the season.
“Although I play because I’m in love with the sport, it finally vindicates all the times I was told that I wasn’t good enough because it puts me among the best of the best,” said Ellis. “I just thank God for the talents I’ve worked hard for and surrounding me with teammates and a coach that helped me be successful.”
Ellis ranks nationally in a number of categories, as she ranks first in Division III in offensive rebounds per game, second in rebounds per game, fifth in double-doubles, 10th in defensive rebounds per game, 15th in points per game, and 56th in steals per game for the 2014-15 season. She led CNR to the HVIAC Semifinals and the ECAC DIII Metro Championship Tournament, the first postseason tournament for the Blue Angels since 1986.