NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Ariellys Velez (Watertown, Conn.) of the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Year and named to the All-GNAC Second Team and teammate Adriana DeBernardo (Stratford, Conn.) was named to the third team as the conference announced its major award winners and all-conference teams for the 2025-26 season.
Velez becomes the third player in program history to take home the GNAC Rookie of the Year honor, and the first since Olivia Bolden in the 2014-15 season.
In 23 games this season, Velez averaged 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
Her points per game and total points (448) both ranked her third in the GNAC. She was also second in the GNAC in field goals made with 171 and seventh in total steals with 60.
Velez had 13 games of 20 or more points, including five of more than 30 points. She scored a career-high 35 points on 13-for-21 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 70-56 win at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on February 3rd.
She scored 33 points on 12-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-6 from three with three rebounds, four assists and three steals in an 87-65 win over Dean on February 17th.
Velez was also named to the GNAC All-Tournament team after averaging 31 points, seven rebounds and two assists over the two games. In the 65-60 quarterfinals win over Regis, she scored 30 points, including 22 in the second half. She added 32 points in the semifinals game against Saint Joseph College (Maine).
DeBernardo averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Her 38 blocks ranked her second in the GNAC and her 211 rebounds put her seventh in the conference.
She had eight double-doubles on the season, including 20 points and 13 rebounds against Emerson on November 15th. DeBernardo also had a stretch of four straight games with a double-double, which included an 11-point, 16 rebound performance against Elms in a win on January 20th. She also had a career-high 23 point performance in a win over Rivier on February 7th.
Ava Murphy (West Haven, Conn.) was named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship team. She averaged 4.8 rebounds on the season, including a career-high 12 against Coast Guard on December 11th.
Major Awards
Player of the Year: Madi Zancan, Regis
Def. Player of the Year: Geanna Bryant, Emmanuel
Rookie of the Year: Ariellys Velez, Albertus Magnus
Coach of the Year: Andy Yosinoff, Emmanuel
Institutional Sportsmanship of the Year: Mitchell College
First Team
Madi Zancan, Regis
Laura Johnson, Lasell
Elisabeth Stapelfeld, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Nylah Mitchell, Emmanuel
Geanna Bryant, Emmanuel
Second Team
Logan Brown, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Tyra Blye, Emmanuel
Camryn Lewis, New England College
Cassidy Kittredge, Norwich
Ariellys Velez, Albertus Magnus
Third Team
Maggi Ellsworth, Norwich
Nevaeh Yorke, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Blaize Mack, Lasell
Mary Turco, Elms
Adriana DeBernardo, Albertus Magnus
All Sportsmanship Team
Ava Murphy, Albertus Magnus
Elyza Mitchell, Colby-Sawyer
Azaria Landry, Dean
Kelly LeBel, Elms
Megan Reilly, Emmanuel
Abigail Duclos, Lasell
Adrianna Maldonado, Mitchell
Ajayah Lively, New England College
Jade Garceau , Norwich
Jordyn Striggles, Regis
Hannah Smith, Rivier
Hayden Madore, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Ella Kulas, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
