Eastern Connecticut State University

Melissa  J. Kowolenko Angle was the key inside player when the Warriors advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four in consecutive seasons for the only time in the program’s 40-year history. The 5-foot-10 inch Killingly native was the only post player to start all four games in those back-to-back Final Four tournaments in 1990/91 and 1991/92. Kowolenko started all 85 games in which she appeared after her first season, missing only one game in her entire four-year career. She graduated as the program’s all-time leader in points (1,429) and games (110) and was also rated first in field goals and free throws made and attempted and was third in steals and rebounds. As a sophomore, Kowolenko stepped into a starting position vacated by graduated first-team All-America and E-Club Hall of Famer Robin Gaby and helped the Warriors win their first Little East Conference regular-season championship, and later, three straight NCAA tournament games to reach the Final Four for the first time in program history. As a junior, Kowolenko was the only player to start all 31 of the team’s games. She helped the squad capture 15 straight games, a share of the LEC regular-season title, its first LEC post-season championship, and three NCAA games in a row to advance to its second straight Final Four. The club’s 25 wins (against six losses) that year established a season record to that point. Named to the All-LEC and LEC tournament all-tournament teams in each of her three starting seasons, Kowolenko capped her four-year career as a senior when she was named to two All-New England teams after setting five program season records, including those for points (521) and scoring average (19.2) and a game record of 36 points. The records for scoring average in a season and points in a game remain today and the season point mark remains second all-time.