Courtesy of Holy Cross Athletic Communications
Forward Lauren Manis of the Holy Cross women's basketball team has been selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Manis was drafted in the third round as the 33rd overall pick on Friday, April 17.
Manis becomes the first player in Crusader history to be selected in the WNBA Draft and just the second player in Patriot League history.
A four-time All-Patriot League honoree, Manis finished her Holy Cross career with 2,020 points and 1,188 rebounds, breaking the school and Patriot League records in rebounds and becoming the first basketball player in school history – men's or women's – with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She ranks third in program history in career points and second with 58 career double-doubles.
During her senior season, Manis averaged 18.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.3 percent from 3-point range. She ranked fourth among all Division I players with 20 double-doubles this season, and ranked fifth with 344 total rebounds. Manis was a five-time Patriot League Player of the Week selection en route to earning a spot on the All-Patriot League first team and All-Defensive team.
Molly Creamer, a Bucknell alumni and the 10th overall pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft, was the first Patriot League Women's Basketball student-athlete in history to be drafted. Creamer went on to play for the New York Liberty after a successful collegiate career at Bucknell.
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The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.