Sept. 4, 2008

Garden City, N.Y. - Carlyshia Hurdle `06 and Gianna Smith `08, two of the most prolific scorers in Adelphi history, have reunited in the same professional basketball league in Puerto Rico. Hurdle plays for a new expansion team called Las Turistas de Cabo Rojo and Smith for Pollitas de Isabella.

Both are members of Liga Superior Femenina, which is the top league in Puerto Rico. Their season runs from July through September, with the playoffs set for the first week of October.

This is Hurdle's third season playing professional basketball. In her first season, she played for ICIM Arad in Romania and was ranked second in scoring, She averaged 15 ppg and 8.7 rpg for the team which ended up finishing second in the league and runner-up in the championship series. Hurdle also played briefly in Sweden before going to Portugal to play for Santarem Basket. There she averaged 20.1 ppg and 12.3 rpg and was named to the All-Star Team, participating for the South region in February 2008.

In Puerto Rico, she is leading the team in both points (21.5) and rebounds (11.8) and is shooting 80 percent from the free throw line.

"It's a tremendous testament to Coach Watts, Mr. Hartwell, President Scott and also the entire Adelphi University athletic program that now another alumnae from the women's basketball team is able to showcase her abilities at the pro level," Hurdle explained. "I am grateful that I'm the first to trail blaze a path to the professional stage, but know I won't be the last in what I'm sure is to be a long line of Adelphi Women Basketball players taking their game to the professional level."

For Smith, this is her first taste of professional play. Smith finished her career at Adelphi as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,519 points, breaking a 12-year old record set by Kendra Koneski '96.

"Playing in Puerto Rico has probably been the best experience for me thus far," Smith said. "A lot of things I have learned at Adelphi, like professionalism and leadership, have carried over to this professional league. The fans are great and my teammates are supportive."

The league is comprised primarily of Puerto Rican players, but more and more collegiate athletes are participating. "This season has been one of the most competitive for the league thus far," Smith explained. "The league is gaining more respect and getting more competitive than in previous seasons. The main difference from playing collegiate as opposed to international is the physical aspect of the game. They are more physical, more competitive and for you to do well, of course you have to have talent, but also have a mental strength."

Smith has played well from the free throw line.

Smith got a late start to the league which started on July 24, and missed the first four games of the season. In just her second game against Catalina, she tallied 27 points and 18 rebounds and was 13-16 from free throw line.

The former Adelphi teammates met for the first time earlier this week. Hurdle's team prevailed, 77-74. She had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Smith had 12 points, two rebounds and one steal.

After the season ends, Smith is not sure what she will do next. "I am working with my agent to see about going over seas. If not, I would be open to coming back [here] next year.

For Hurdle, her plans are definitely to continue to play. "I've met so many amazing people, learned different languages and customs and had the chance to visit beautiful countries and monuments, while playing against amazing competition." Hurdle said.