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 After taking a three years break from basketball to pursue a professional triathlon career and a Ph.D. in San Diego, another tempting offer to travel to Europe and play basketball appeared before my eyes. This time, I had the opportunity to play with my sister, Teresa. And the team was in Termini Imerese, Sicily where my great-grandparents were born and married. And, the other interesting element was the possibility to compete in an ITU point race triathlon in Palermo, Italy. I couldn't resist temptation and accepted the offer. In Sept. 2001, after attending our brother's wedding (Congratulations Leon and Monica), we headed to Sicily and the top professional women's basketball league in Italy. I planned to compete in my last triathlon of 2001 in Palermo and then begin the basketball season in October. You can make plans, but you can't always keep them. I broke my toe during the exact hour tragedy hit New York on Sept. 11. My small fracture pales in comparison to the deep cracks that penetrated our lives and security on that day. It was a surreal experience being away from the United States when it happened. I wasn't sure what I was seeing on TV was reality or a horrible hoax. The reports were difficult to understand and we had no access to English channels or newspapers. Phone lines were impossible to get through. But, with time, we came to learn about the event and, hopefully, with more time we will be able to learn what it all meant.  I sat out the next 5 weeks (missing the race in Palermo). I tried to play in a game, but limped horribly through it. Once I was able to play again, our team was broken up and abandoned by the coach (I have had really bad luck with finding a sane coach in basketball and the tradition from college to Italy continues. However, look at the triathlon page for a more positive light on coaches.) The coach refused to pay the players and sold the licenses to other teams. Teresa and I would not be able to play on the same team as we had thought. In Jan., I moved on to play for a struggling team (0-14 at the time) in Arezzo, Italy (near Florence). I played many minutes and averaged 24 points per game. We won 4 games and lost 9 (a few by only 2-3 points which was better than losing by +40 as they had done before Jan.) Nevertheless, the attempt to salvage the season was fruitless as 4 wins were not enough to pull the team up from the bottom. However, it was fun to sink 3 pointers again and dribble coast to coast for a basket (without a coach telling you not to). And, I got to see Tuscany (Siena, Florence, Arezzo, Pisa and numerous smaller towns full of vineyards and olive tree orchards). |
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In 1997, Michelle led Vanderbilt to the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament scoring 25 points against University of Washington and 17 points against Kansas. She finished her career as a nationally ranked three-point shooter blowing away Vandy's school records for career three-point goals (244) and season three-point goals (83). She holds UCLA's three-point made in a single game record. She made 6 three point field goals in a single game. That same year Michelle competed in the inaugural WNBA draft camp making the top 10 in scoring average, three-point goals made and three-point percentage. Despite her outstanding performances at the camp, Michelle was not drafted. She practiced with both Utah and Houston during that season. Michelle declined offers from several European teams in order to return to graduate studies.
Below is a list Michelle's achievements and statistics in basketball over the years.
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1996-1997
 WNBA Draft Camp Participant 1997Ranked Nationally for 3pt. field goal percentage and goals madeSEC Boyd McWhorter Top Female Athlete of the Year 1996Senior Starter Vanderbilt UniversityTeam MVPVanderbilt Student Athlete of the YearSEC All-Conference TeamGTE Academic All-American TeamSEC All Academic TeamNCAA Sweet Sixteen RoundIntersport 3-point shoot out at Men's Final Four (top 8 shooters in country)Leading scorer averaging 12 ppg, Averaged 4 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per gameLed SEC in 3-point percentage(42%) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.8)Ranks nationally for 3-point field goal percentage and field goals madeVanderbilt records:  Career 3-point field goals (244) ranks firstSeason 3-point field goals (83) ranks firstGame 3-point field goals (6) ranks secondMember of 1000 point club, career points (1214) |
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1995-1996
SEC Boyd McWhorter Award for Top Female Scholar-Athlete of the YearGTE Academic All-AmericanSEC All Academic TeamNCAA Round of 8Ranked first nationally for 3-point field goal percentageFourth leading scorer while ranking 8th on team for minutes playedAveraged less than one turnover per 22 minutes of play |
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1994-1995
Sophomore StarterSecond leading scorer with an average of 9.5 points per gameAveraged 4 rebounds per gameGTE Academic All-AmericanSEC All Academic TeamNCAA Round of 16Led in 3-point percentage (37%) and average 3pt. goals made per game (2)1993-1994
Transferred to Vanderbilt and sat out the season due to NCAA transfer rules
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1992-1993
Started 26 games for UCLA, averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.6 rpgSelected to the PAC-10 All Freshman TeamScored 20 points against USCBroke UCLA record: most three point field goals made in one game. Made 6three point field goals against Ohio StateBroke UCLA record: most three point field goals made in one season. Made 48three point field goals in 26 games.Led the team in 3 point field goals made, attempted, and 3 point field goalpercentageRanked second in scoring, steals, and minutes played. |
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High School 1988-1992
Twelve Varsity Letters in basketball, tennis, track and swimmingFirst athlete, male or female, to earn maximum number of varsity lettersFirst athlete, male or female to have jersey (#24) retiredFinished career at Thousand Oaks High School as No. 4 scorer in California historyThe No. 1 scorer among guards.totaling 2,798 pointsAveraged 27 ppg and 9 rpg and 6.2 assists per gameStreet and Smith's All-American twiceUSA Today All-American twiceCAL-Hi Magazine rated top guard in CaliforniaCIF Player of the YearCIF First Team three yearsThree-time All-State SelectionThree-time Los Angeles Times Player of the YearHolds numerous school records in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists, field goal percentages, free throw percentages for game, single season and career categoriesHolds the county records in scoring and reboundingCIF Finals: Basketball 1991 & 1992300M hurdles, 6th400M relay swimmingsingles & doubles tennis tournament |
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