« DI Women’s Basketball 2012-13

Lily Grenci

School
Siena College
Position
Forward
Major
Sociology
PPG
15.2
RPG
9.0
APG
0.8

Classroom

Grenci currently maintains a 3.85 cumulative GPA while majoring in Sociology. She has previously made the Siena College President’s List twice and the Dean’s List four times. A member of the Siena Athletics’ 4.0 Club for previously achieving a 4.0 GPA during the Spring 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters, she has been named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and Honor Roll in each year of eligibility. Last spring, Grenci was awarded entry into the Siena College Sociology Honors Society - Phi Kappa Delta - and was just one of 11 student athletes nationally to be named to the 10th Annual Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar Athlete Team.

Character

Grenci has been hailed for her leadership skills by both her teammates and coaching staff. Because of this, she was appointed a team captain as only a junior. According to head coach Ali Jaques, “From the moment I met Lily, it was obvious that she had leadership ability. She is recognized by the Athletic Department, her teammates, and the community as the face of our program. She is a phenomenal student, working hard in every class to achieve her best. She has goals to attend law school and challenges herself in the classroom to realize this dream. On the basketball court, she is dependable, works hard, and leads with her actions. She expects to be good, and as a senior, she is ready to carry whatever load she needs to for us to win. Off the court, she handles little things that make a big difference. I don’t need to worry about our team being on time – and everyone being there. Lily handles that. If I need to get a message to the team, Lily takes care of it. Perhaps the best example of her leadership (so far) came with something that was completely out of her control. When a coaching change happens, there is naturally going to be uncertainty - especially for a lone senior going into her final year.  Lily has overcome injuries, gone from not playing that much early in her career to being a go-to player. To have your world shaken up going into your senior year could have been very disconcerting. Lily’s leadership and example to her team has allowed our program to move forward with a fearless and trusting mentality. Lily has embraced change, and her team has followed her.”

Community

Grenci is an active participant in the athletic department’s “Saints in the Community” program. Last school year, Grenci and her teammates played a major role in Siena winning the MAAC Goodworks Challenge for performing the most community service of any school in the conference. On campus, Grenci is a member of Siena’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and also tutors fellow student athletes. Along with her teammates, Grenci has made numerous visits to the Ronald McDonald house cooking dinner for the residents, participated in the AIDS Walk and Race for Hope and volunteered at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, Miracle League Special Needs, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “Light the Night”, Unity House and local food pantry. As part of the Adopt-A-School program, Grenci has visited local schools preaching to area youth what it takes to be successful as both a student and an athlete. She has also played a major role raising money and awareness in the team’s annual “Pink Zone” Breast Cancer Awareness Game which last year raised over $25,000 for the Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer.

Competition

Grenci was named a First Team All-MAAC selection at the end of last season when she ranked second in the conference in scoring (15.2) third in rebounding (7.8), sixth in free throw percentage (76.3%) and seventh in field goal percentage (44.0%). She was the only player in the conference to score in double figures in all 18 regular season MAAC games and scored nine points or more in 26 of 28 games overall. Last season she scored 20 or more points seven times, pulled down 10 or more rebounds seven times and recorded six double-doubles.