Eastern Connecticut State University

Bernice J. Laferriere was a vital contributor in the women’s basketball program’s march to consecutive NCAA Division III Final Four appearances, three Little East Conference championships and an ECAC tournament title. A versatile shooter, rebounder and ball-handler, the 5-foot-9 inch Bristol native totaled 1,300 points in 103 career games (12.6 ppg.), leaving the program as its all-time scoring leader and ranking second all-time in three-point field goals, third in steals and fourth in assists. During her signature junior season, she led the Warriors to the first of two consecutive berths in the NCAA Division III Final Four by averaging career-highs in scoring (16.9), rebounding (6.4) and steals (2.7) and earning honors as a WBCA Division III honorable mention All-America and Little East Conference Player-of-the-Year. That year, she was also named first-team All-Northeast District as the Warriors qualified for the NCAA Division III Final Four for the first time in program history. Laferriere scored 22 points in a win in the sectional tournament opener that year and later netted what was then a career-high 29 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists in a nine-point victory that helped Eastern claim third place at the Final Four. With 39 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in two Final Four games, Laferriere represented Eastern on the all-tournament team. In that junior season, Laferriere sparked the Warriors to their first Little East Conference title in any sport and to New England’s top ranking. That team was also selected Division III Team-of-the-Year by the ECAC. Laferriere put the finishing touches on her Hall of Fame career as a senior, leading Eastern to 25 wins. That year, Laferriere scored a career-high 30 points in the NCAA opener, then broke the program career scoring record with 23 points in the national semifinals. Laferriere also lettered as a senior in softball on a regional championship team which placed fourth nationally.