In the past few years, Seton Hall women’s basketball coach Tony Bozzella has reached into the transfer market to find some of his best players, including JaQuan Jackson and Taylor Brown.
Bozzella’s newest impact transfer this off-season is Alexis Lewis, a three time All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) selection from Iona. In accordance with NCAA rules, Lewis will have to sit this upcoming season before regaining eligibility for her final season the year after.
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Photo via SHU Athletics[/caption]
“I just wanted to find a school where I could better myself as a player and person on and off the court,” Lewis told The Setonian. “I felt like Seton Hall was the best option for me because of the competition I’ll have a chance to play against, and the education that is offered as well.”
Lewis, a 5-foot-10-inch guard from Pittston, Penn., made her way to Iona from Holy Redeemer High School, where she was first team All-State and the Wyoming Valley Conference’s all-time leading scorer.
As a freshman at Iona, Lewis earned immediate playing time and averaged 8.8 points per game to help her team to the NCAA Tournament. Her sophomore season was her best, as she was named First Team All-MAAC after averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Lewis became a dangerous shooter, hitting 37 percent of her looks from outside.
Although her numbers regressed slightly in her junior season, Lewis was still named to the All-MAAC third team, averaging 14.1 points per game. She said that static play and a pause in her development was a factor in her decision to transfer away from Iona after the season. The other main factor was her education, as she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in social work after the completion of her bachelor’s degree.
“We are extremely excited to add a player of Alexis Lewis’ caliber to our program,” Bozzella said in a statement on April 12. “Lexi is a gifted scorer with deep shooting range, as well as an explosive rebounder and defender. We have no doubts that her skill-set will translate to great success in the Big East as she concludes what has already been a tremendous career.”
When Lewis takes the court in the fall of 2019, the backcourt will look much different, with only Kaela Hilaire, Kaity Healy and incoming freshman Femi Funeus set to remain after next season.
Before that, Lewis will have a full season to practice with senior guards Inja Butina and Nicole Jimenez, in addition to graduate-transfers Victoria Cardaci and Charise Wilson.
Despite her inability to directly impact games in 2018-19, Lewis is excited to push her teammates and be a positive force in the locker room.
“I want to have an impactful role and improve all the aspects of my game, and myself as a person,” Lewis said. “My overall goal is just to do everything on the court to the best of my ability.”
Andrew Lombardo can be reached at andrew.lombardo@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @lombardo_andrew.
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