Feb. 26, 2010

NE-10 Men's All-Conference Release
NE-10 Women's All-Conference Release

Kyle Caiola, a sophomore from Parma, OH (Normandy H.S.) and Bianca Simmons, a freshman from Middletown, CT (Mercy H.S.), earned major honors Friday as the Northeast-10 Men's and Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams were announced Friday.

Caiola was named to the NE-10 Second Team for the second straight year while Simmons was named the NE-10 Co-Freshman of the Year and a member of the Women's All-Rookie Team.

The UMass Lowell men and women enter the NE-10 Tournament this weekend. Seeded No. 7, the men (16-11, 13-9 in the NE-10) host No. 10 Assumption Saturday at 3:00 while the women (16-10, 12-10 NE-10), also seeded No. 7, host No. 10 American International Sunday at 1:00.

Named the 2009 NE-10 Freshman of the Year, Caiola followed up his 2008-09 campaign with a stellar season as he led the River Hawks in scoring (20.5), ranking him third in the conference and 26th in the country. He also shot .476 from the floor (.393 from long range) and .917 from the free throw line, pitting him second in the nation.

"Kyle is very deserving of being selected by our coaches as one of the elite players in our conference," said UML Head Coach Greg Herenda. "He had a great year when every opponent knew that they had to try and stop him."

During the season, Caiola broke the UMass Lowell record for consecutive free throws made, sinking 46 in a row between Dec. 5 and Jan. 6. He is the only River Hawk to start all 27 contests this season, averaging 34.7 minutes per game.

Caiola was named to the Northeast-10 Weekly Honor Roll eight times and Player of the Week once over the course of the 2009-10 campaign and ranked among conference leaders in six major categories: free throw accuracy (first), scoring (third), minutes played (eighth), steals (1.8, tied for 10th), 3-point field goal percentage (10th), and field goal percentage (14th).

"Kyle is the backbone of our team and has done some amazing things before he has completed his sophomore season," Herenda added. "I am most proud of his toughness and competitiveness. I am glad that we have him for the next two years."

Simmons was an integral part of the women's basketball team's resurgence this season as the River Hawks improved from an 8-19 clip last year with a 16-10 record this year. She emerged as UMass Lowell's scoring leader with 12.7 points per game, and also compiled 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 3-point field goals per game and shot .826 from the free throw line.

Named the NE-10 Rookie of the Week four times this season, Simmons ranks among NE-10 leaders in free throw accuracy (second) and scoring (15th). She enjoyed season-highs of 28 points and 12 rebounds in a 73-64 win over Le Moyne; and six assists in a 77-65 win over Merrimack.

"Bianca was an instrumental part of our turn aound this year," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "Offensively, she can both see the floor and score." 

Simmons shared the NE-10 honor with Gabrielle Gibson of Assumption.

A liberal arts major, Caiola is the son of Patricia Metlesitz and Glenn Caiola of Parma, OH. Majoring in criminal justice, Simmons is the daughter of Cheryl and Reginald Simmons of Middletown, CT.