Martin and Stopera honored for Sportsmanship by Skyline Conference

Martin and Stopera honored for Sportsmanship by Skyline Conference

New York, NY –A total of 29 student-athletes have been named to the Skyline All-Sportsmanship Team for the 2013-14 Winter sports season. Two of Sage’s student-athletes were recognized for their sportsmanship throughout this past season. Senior tri-captain Chelsea Martin (Davenport, NY/Jefferson Central) of the women’s basketball team was cited, while graduate student and captain, Jeff Stopera (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) was recognized as a member of the men’s basketball team.

The honorees are now eligible to receive the 2013-14 Male & Female Sporting Awards, which will be voted on by the conference’s directors of athletics at the conclusion of the academic year.

“I applaud these student-athletes for displaying good sportsmanship and serving as an example throughout the season,” says Skyline Commissioner Linda Bruno. “Sportsmanship is an integral component of the Skyline mission and it is my privilege to recognize these athletes for their genuine appreciation of the athletic experience."

Sage’s lone senior on the women’s basketball team this year, Martin holds the Gator record for most games played, which has grown to 98, all consecutive starts. She also has 701 career points with 534 career rebounds. She also has 101 career 3-point baskets and continues to climb Sage’s record book in several areas. She is No. 5 in rebounds, No. 3 in blocks (62), No. 12 in points (701), and No. 3 in three-pointers.

Sage’s women’s team is one of the 64 teams chosen to compete in the 2014 NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament after winning the Skyline Conference Championship last week. The Gators are 17-9 on the year and will open their tournament run on March 7 at Ithaca College at 8 p.m.

Stopera’s personal-best season culminated with his also earning a spot on the 2013-14 Skyline Conference All-Star Men’s Basketball Second Team. He tallied 272 points and 166 assists in 25 games played, while also averaging 10.9 ppg with 56 steals and a team-best 33.3 minutes per game as well. He ranks No. 1 in the league with his 6.67 assists per game average, while ranking second with his 2.33 steals per game. He is also No. 2 in assist to turnover ratio with a 2.32 rating and ranks 4th in FT% (78.0%). He finished his Sage career as the record holder in numerous categories. He played in a record 110 games with 567 assists, 234 steals, and finished No. 3 all-time at Sage in scoring with 860 career points. He is ranked No. 8 in Div. 3 with his assists per game, No. 6 in total assists, and No. 42 in steals per game.

Over the course of the season, he finished as the high scorer on three occasions including a 27-point effort in the win over the College of Mt. St. Vincent. He also set a new mark for most points in a game as he tallied 32 points in Sage's loss at Farmingdale, 83-79. He earned Skyline Conference Co-Player of the Week honors following the 32-point performance and was also cited as the ECAC Division III Metro Men's Basketball Player of the Week. On the 2013-2014 season, Sage went 15-11 overall and earned their second straight Skyline Conference Tournament appearance after setting new high-water marks for wins overall and in the conference this past season.