Moon Township, Pa. – Rebeca Navarro, 2017 alumna of the Robert Morris University women's basketball team, has signed a professional contract with the Leicester Riders of the Women's British Basketball League (WBBL), as announced by the team in a release on Thursday afternoon.
"I am so thankful for the opportunity that Leicester Riders is giving to me," said Navarro in the team's release. "It is my first professional contract and I will not take it for granted."
RELEASE: Riders Add Rebeca Navarro Ahead of Fourth WBBL Season
Navarro completed her Robert Morris career this past March as the program's co-leader in games played (128), while also owning the top ranking for free throw percentage (.848), fifth spot in three-point field goals made (189), and seventh slot in three-point percentage (.368). She, along with Janee Brown and Anna Niki Stamolamprou, helped lift the Colonials to their most successful four-year stretch in school history, as RMU appeared in three NCAA Tournaments (2014, 2016, 2017), made four consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament championship games, and won a pair of NEC regular-season titles (2014, 2017).
"It's very difficult to actually put into words how proud we are for Rebeca and her family," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "She has grown so much over her four years in our program, and it seemed like yesterday when she arrived on our campus for the first time. We are so very excited to see another member of the program fulfill her dream of earning the opportunity to play professional basketball."
Navarro is the 16th Colonial under Buscaglia to sign a professional contract and joins alumnae Lou Mataly (2012-16), Yohanna Morton (2009-11), Angela Pace (2007-10), Ashley Ravelli (2012-16), Kristine Silaraja (2009-11), and Artemis Spanou (2010-14) as active players in the professional ranks. The Galicia, Spain native will also become the second RMU player to appear in the WBBL, joining former Barking Abbey Crusader center Mary Durojaye (2008-12).
RELATED: Colonials in the Pros
"This accomplishment is something that so many student-athletes set out to do, with only a small percentage being able to accomplish the dream," added Buscaglia. "We look forward to rooting for the Leicester Riders with great pride, watching Rebeca represent the Robert Morris Colonials in England."
Leicester posted a 13-5 record in 2016-17, finishing as runners-up in the WBBL Championship table. The Riders also advanced to the WBBL Trophy Final this past season, falling to Sevenoaks Suns, 82-67.
"We are excited to have Rebeca join us," said Riders head coach Krumesh Patel in the team's release. "She is an exciting player with strong all-around ability and good knowledge of the game."
Robert Morris won its seventh NEC Tournament championship in 2016-17 and advanced to a fifth NCAA Tournament. The Colonials return seven players from a season ago and welcome five freshmen from five different countries (England, Finland, Japan, Spain, United States).
