#43 Vanessa Gidden
6-3, Senior
Center
Stamford, Connecticut
High School: Stamford
High School Coach: Curtis Tinnin
Postseason honors candidate...Played for her native Jamaica at the Caribbean Basketball Championship this past summer and helped Jamaica win the CBC title.
AT HOFSTRA
2005-06: First team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection...First team All-Met selection by the Met Basketball Writers Association...CAA All-Defensive Team selection...All-CAA Tournament selection...Started all 31 games...Averaged a team high 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game...Scored in double-figures in 28 games...Had 13 double-digit rebounding performances...Led team with 13 double-doubles...Ranked fifth in the CAA in scoring and rebounding, and fourth in blocked shots...Led CAA in offensive rebounds (4.77 per game)...Led team in scoring 16 times and in rebounding 19 times...Scored a career-high 26 points and added 13 rebounds versus Northeastern...Scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds against James Madison...Tallied 22 points and 14 rebounds in WNIT victory over Stony Brook...Had a 21-point, 17-rebound game against Georgia State in the CAA Quarterfinals...Also had 21 points and 17 rebounds versus Drexel during regular season...Had five blocks versus Kentucky...Had four-block games against Delaware, Northeastern and Towson...Recorded four steals versus UNC Wilmington...Averaged 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in conference games...CAA Player of the Week on January 9...Newsday Female Athlete of the Week on January 4...Named to the Presto Sports/MBWA Weekly Honor Roll five times...Averaged 29.7 minutes per game.
2004-05: Third team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection...CAA All-Defensive Team selection...Earned Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player accolades at annual team banquet...Played in 28 games, starting 23...Averaged 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game...Ranked second on the team in scoring and rebounding...Recorded a school record 62 blocked shots (2.2 per game) to lead the team...Ranked eighth in the CAA in scoring, fifth in rebounding, first in offensive rebounds (4.14 per game) and first in blocked shots (2.21 per game)...Scored in double-figures in 23 games and had 10 or more rebounds in nine games...Led Hofstra in scoring 10 times and in rebounding 12 times...Had nine double-doubles on the season...Opened season with a 21-point performance against Quinnipiac...Followed that up with a 19-point, 14-rebound effort against Colgate...Tallied 19 points and 16 rebounds at Sacred Heart...Scored 24 points at George Mason...Narrowly missed a triple-double with 17 points and career-highs of 19 rebounds and nine blocks versus William & Mary...Recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds against James Madison...Had four or more blocks in seven games...Recorded three steals versus James Madison...CAA Player of the Week on November 22 and February 7...Named to Met Basketball Writers Association Weekly Honor Roll on January 10 and February 7...Averaged 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in conference play...Averaged 32 minutes per game.
2003-04: Played in 27 games, starting five...Averaged 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game...Tied for team lead in blocks (20)...Ranked fourth on the team in rebounds...Scored 10 points in just 12 minutes of action at William & Mary...Scored 10 points versus Drexel...Had 13 rebounds (10 offensive) at Delaware...Grabbed 13 boards at James Madison...Grabbed 11 rebounds versus Pepperdine...Scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds versus UNC Wilmington...Tallied four blocked shots at James Madison...Blocked three shots at Old Dominion...Averaged 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in conference games...Averaged 14.7 minutes per game.
HIGH SCHOOL/PERSONAL
Played basketball at Stamford High School in Stamford, Connecticut...Second team All-Southern Connecticut Athletic Conference selection as a senior after averaging 15 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for the 12-9 Lady Knights...Team Most Valuable Player as a senior and junior...All-Southern Connecticut Athletic Conference selection as a junior...Averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds as a junior...Is the first player in Curtis Tinnin's 12 year tenure as head coach at Stamford to receive a Division I basketball scholarship...Born July 1, 1985 in Montego Bay, Jamaica...Moved to America at age 10...Has two brothers and one sister...Marketing major.
