WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Eastern Connecticut State University senior forward Taylor Salato (East Haven) has closed out an accomplished four-year career by being named to the D3hoops.com All-Region 2 third team and has been selected to compete in the New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Senior Classic.
 
Having earlier this month repeated as a first-team selection to the All-Little East Conference team, Salato becomes the program's 12^th selection to the D3hoops.com all-region team since 2001/02 and as the 36^th pick to the NEWBA Senior Classic since 1985/86. The NEWBA game is scheduled for this Sunday at 1 p.m. at  Ainsworth Gymnasium on the campus of Smith College.
 
Salato is one of five Little East players scheduled to compete in the NEWBA Classic and one of seven LEC players voted to the D3hoops.com all-region team, with five of the six third-teamers coming from the LEC.  

A second-year captain, Salato  was recognized four times this year by NEWBA: as its Player-of-the-Week once, first-team honor roll once and two-time second-team honor roll, and was also a two-time LEC Player-of-the-Week.

This year, the six-footer started all 26 games for the 11-15 Warriors (10-6 LEC) and led the team in scoring (19.0), rebounding average (9.9), blocks (19), field goal percentage (44.0) and free throw percentage (80.0) for the second straight year. In the final LEC statistics, she was ranked first in points (495), scoring average, field goals (181), free throws (132), second in rebounds (257) and third in rebounding average, third in free throw percentage, and fifth in field goal percentage.

Her 34 points January 11 against Wheaton College was second all-time at Eastern and equalled the second-most by an LEC player this year and her 20 rebounds February 25 against Keene State College were the second-most by an Eastern player this year.

In her final season, Salato had 12 double-doubles, ending her career with five double-doubles in her last six games. She led or shared the team lead in scoring 16 times, in rebounding 18 times and in both categories 12 times and had double figures in scoring in 23 of 26 games and in rebounds 12 times. In the final game of her career in the first round of the LEC tournament, she had 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.

In her career, Salato had five  games of at least 30 points. Among the all-time Top 10,  she finished first in free throw percentage (.825), fourth in free throws (331), sixth in free throw attempts (401) and tenth in rebounds (721). Among the all-time Top 15, she was 11^th in field goal attempts (1,056) and rebounding average (7.4) and 12^th in points (1,246).
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