Moon Township, Pa. – Anna Niki Stamolamprou, 2017 alumna of the Robert Morris University women's basketball team, has signed a professional contract with Helios VS Basket of Switzerland's Championnat Ligue Nationale A Feminine (LNAF).
"We are so very proud to see Anna Niki start her professional career in Switzerland," said second-year head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "Over her four years at Robert Morris, Anna Niki had provided our Colonial family with some amazing memories, which will stay with all of us forever. Her work ethic and passion for this program will always be remembered as a testament to her earning everything she accomplished. We are filled with so much joy to have the opportunity to stay connected with Anna Niki while she battles for Helios."
In her four seasons donning the Colonial colors, Stamolamprou helped the team win three NEC Tournaments (2014, 2016, 2017) – and subsequently appear in those seasons' NCAA Tournaments – and capture a pair of NEC regular-season titles in 2014 and 2017. She was named NEC Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game and collected NEC Tournament MVP accolades in 2016 and 2017. A four-time All-NEC selection, Stamolamprou was also honored as the NEC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete in 2016 and 2017 and currently is a nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year.
RELATED: Stamolamprou Nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year
Stamolamprou's name can be found all through the Robert Morris record books. The native of Thessaloniki, Greece ranks in the top three in career three-point field goals (283 – 1st), games started (122 – 1st), points (1,815 – 2nd), field goals made (665 – 2nd), assists (373 – 3rd), and games played (125 – 3rd). She is one of two players to eclipse 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists, and 100 steals in a career, and holds or shares the RMU single-game standard for points scored (39), field goals made (15), and three-point field goal percentage (.875).
Stamolamprou is the 17th Colonial under Buscaglia to sign a professional contract and joins alumnae Lou Mataly (2012-16), Yohanna Morton (2009-11), Rebeca Navarro (2013-17), Angela Pace (2007-10), Ashley Ravelli (2012-16), Kristine Silaraja (2009-11), and Artemis Spanou (2010-14) as active players in the professional ranks. Last month, Navarro inked a deal with the Leicester Riders of the Women's British Basketball League (WBBL).
RELATED: Navarro Signs with Leicester Riders of WBBL
Helios VS Basket is in the midst of a special run in the LNAF. Since being promoted from LNBF following the 2007-08 season, the team has captured the last six LNAF playoff championships and the 2017 Swiss Supercup. Helios also is a five-time LNAF regular-season champion, and has won five Swiss Cups and four League Cups.
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).
