5 more scholarships bring 6-year total to 37

SAN MARCOS (6-10-2018) -- Five of Palomar's seven women's basketball sophomores have accepted athletic scholarships to four-year universities so far, bringing the total for coach Leigh Marshall's program to 37 scholarships over the last six years.

The most recent signees are Vanessa Perryman and Nia de la Pena-Thompson with Hope International University, and Kendall Crosby with the University of the Virgin Islands.

Hope International and the University of the Virgin Islands both are NAIA universities.

Previously, All-State community college first-team selection Monica Todd and All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference North point guard Quinesha Vanhook, who led  to a 57-5 win-loss record over the past two seasons, have both landed full scholarships to NCAA Division II power Cal Poly Pomona.

Both were major contributors as Marshall's Comets went 29-2 during the 2017-18 season and were ranked No. 1 in California entering their second consecutive State Elite Eight appearance at in March at Ventura College.

Todd and Vanhook both officially signed with the Broncos, who finished the 2017-18 season 20-9 and advanced to the semifinals of the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference tournament before finally being eliminated by Humboldt State, last month.

"Cal Poly is a nationally prominent Division II program and is an elite university academically," said  They're outstanding players and are also very intelligent. They're receiving an opportunity to play in a respected program and receive excellent educations that will  prepare them to succeed in life after basketball."

Cal Poly landed three players on the All-CCAA women's basketball all-conference first team during the recent season and six Broncos received academic all-conference recognition.

Todd led Palomar in scoring and rebounding during the 2017-18 season, averaging 15.9 points and 7.6 rebounds on a team on which 14 players saw extensive playing time as Marshall constantly ran players in and out of games in Marshall's "40 Minutes of Hell" running, pressing style of play. The Comets scored 121, 112, 108 and 102 points during the season and defeated eventual state champion and PCAC North rival Mt. San Jacinto two times in three games. 

The CCAA is the most successful conference in NCAA Division II athletically, as its former and current members have won 153 National Championships.      

Todd and Vanhook are both sociology majors.