ALL-TIME WOMAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS

DeBose Becomes First Charger to Win Woman of the Year Since 2015.

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - One quick look at the University of New Haven women's basketball record book and it is hard to miss Cam DeBose's accomplishments.

However, focusing on DeBose ranking second in program history in 3-pointers made and 15th in scoring only begins to tell the story of the impact that the Florida native has had on the UNH campus.

Her work in the classroom has been even more impressive than what she did in leading the Chargers to three winning seasons during her time at New Haven. DeBose has emerged into a campus leader as she took advantage of the opportunities to prove that she is more than just a productive basketball player.

Obviously, her impact could be felt beyond the UNH campus as DeBose joins former New Haven women's track and field stars Ivy Watts and Shannon Gagne as a winner of the Northeast-10 Conference's Woman of the Year.

When DeBose reflected on her time at New Haven, the focus was more about the people she crossed paths with than any accolades that came her way.

"It is the connections I've made, meeting people and having conversations with them," DeBose said. "I have gotten so close to people in the athletic department. I am actually making meaningful connections with the hope that I can continue to rely on it, and keep those relationships going. That is what I am most proud of, that I can still rely on those people even if I leave UNH.

"It really allowed me to do what I was passionate about other than just basketball. People listen to me. I was able to say my thoughts out loud and not be worried about the repercussions of what might happen if I brought up a new idea or opinion and UNH has welcomed me with all the ideas that I had."

It has been quite the journey for DeBose. She was one of the student-athletes who had to deal with a season being called off due to the global pandemic, was a strong voice in the Black Lives Matter movement and made her presence felt both on and off the court.

Getting the chance to earn one of the most prestigious honors in the NE10 is a special moment for DeBose.

"It means the world to me to just be nominated for the woman of the year, especially since I am a black woman and being in sports, there are a lot of obstacles that you go through," DeBose said. "Just to be able to use my voice to talk about the things that I am passionate about and being recognized, realizing that people are listening and it feels great that people see me so I am really happy about it."

DeBose posted a 3.95 grade-point average while earning an undergraduate degree in psychology and has topped that with a 4.0 mark while pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling. She received the women's basketball Sport Excellence Award from the Northeast-10. DeBose has been involved along with other student-athletes in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an Alzheimer's fundraiser, was an officer of New Haven's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of UNH's President Advisory Board.

On the court, she is quick to credit her teammates whenever she is in a position to add to her point total. That selfless approach carries over to her being among the most decorated student-athletes with the Chargers in recent memory.

"Lots of long nights," DeBose said with a laugh. "Staying up and studying and it helps that I am a bit of an overachiever so I do as best I can on and off the court. I will try as hard as I can at practice and it is the same thing with studying. I will do it over and over again until I am satisfied with it. It also helps that I have people in my corner who can help me, talking to my coaches, my professors because my schedule kind of conflicts when it comes to games and classes and practice so being able to have open communication has helped a lot."

DeBose still has a year left to finish up her advanced degree at New Haven. Her basketball playing days, however, are over.

DeBose leaves quite the legacy. The Chargers were coming off back-to-back losing seasons before she arrived in West Haven. In the four seasons she played, New Haven had three winning seasons, a 63-47 record and that included 35 wins at home and 39 conference victories.

"I am definitely proud, especially with the people that Coach [Debbie Buff] brought in and introduced so being able to make an impact with them and with Coach's guidance, it definitely has been a turnaround since my freshman year," DeBose said.

There is still some time for DeBose to figure out what is the next step in her journey. While she will support the basketball program as an alum, not having a basketball season to embark on for the first time in a decade will allow her to take part in even more activities on campus during the 2023-24 calendar year.

She plans to use her multiple degrees at New Haven to make a difference in the world.

"I definitely aspire to be a clinic health counselor," DeBose said. "I definitely want to spark conversation about mental health in the black community, it is not spoken of more, it is more of taboo conversation and plus there aren't many black counselors in the field so I figure representation matters. If you find somebody who looks like you, who understands you, maybe you will want to seek their services. My whole plan is to be that person where people feel comfortable enough to talk about their inner struggles."

The other Northeast-10 Woman of the Year finalists are Olivia Strelevitz of the Southern Connecticut State women's swimming and diving team, who like DeBose was a multiple-year team captain in college, and Southern New Hampshire All-American distance runner Ashley Corcoran.

DeBose is in contention for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Former UConn women's basketball star Rebecca Lobo is the only Connecticut athlete to win the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

-Release provided by New Haven athletic communications-

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 13 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete. 

Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.