SOMERSET, N.J. (Jan. 10, 2012) – Former Saint Francis University women's basketball student-athlete Beth Swink was announced Tuesday afternoon as one of three of the Northeast Conference Hall of Fame's 2012 inductees. Swink is accompanied by Marist men's basketball player Rik Smits and former Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball coach Tom Green.
“The second class of the Northeast Conference Hall of Fame illustrates the strong tradition of NEC basketball at the student-athlete and coaching levels,” said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner. “Each inductee was an integral part of multiple conference championship teams and individually collected countless accolades. Congratulations to Rik, Beth and Tom; they epitomize the NEC's commitment to excellence in athletics, academics and community involvement.”
Swink joins Red Flash great Jess Zinobile as Saint Francis women's basketball players who have been inducted into the NEC Hall of Fame. She won four NEC championships, played in four straight NCAA Tournaments and was part of teams that won a total of 88 games from 2001-05. Swink was voted NEC Player of the Year following the 2003-04 season and was a three-time first team All-NEC honoree.
The Connellsville, Pa. product was also voted the 2001-02 NEC Rookie of the Year and earned NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors in 2003 and 2005. She was tabbed to the NEC 25th Anniversary All-Time team back in 2006.
Swink's 2,127 career points ranks second in school and NEC history, and her 957 rebounds is the third-highest total in Red Flash annals. Her 688 points in 2004-05 is third on the NEC single-season scoring chart, and she occupies three of top-seven spots on the NEC single-season field goal percentage list.
Under the bright lights of March, Swink matched an NCAA Tournament record with a 10-for-10 shooting performance from the field as part of a 28-point, 14-rebound performance against Purdue in a first round game on March 21, 2004. She also racked up 40 points in an NEC quarterfinal win over St. Francis (N.Y.) on March 5, 2005 which remains the second-highest single-game total in the tourney history.
Off the court, Swink was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America selection.
Following graduation, Swink received a tryout with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and went on to play overseas in the Swedish “A” League.
“The Saint Francis Red Flash family is extremely honored that the Northeast Conference has selected Beth Swink for induction to the NEC Hall of Fame,” said
Bob Krimmel, Saint Francis Director of Athletics.
“Beth represented the very best in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete at Saint Francis. Her excellence on the court was matched by her success in the classroom, commitment to service and her amazing humility. Beth continues to represent the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education as she pursues her career goals and will always have a special place in the hearts of those who have been touched by her as a student athlete and as a person. The Saint Francis Community congratulates Beth and we look forward to welcoming her home to DeGol Arena to formally recognize her induction into the Northeast Conference Hall of Fame.”
