Press Releases

December 3, 1999
Lithuanian All-Star Nets 1000th Point for Lady Colonials

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Southampton, NY -- Southampton College of Long Island University's Rita Breivaite knocked in her 1000th point on Thursday. Now the 6-foot-3 senior center from Panevezys, Lithuania, wants to be the Lady Colonials' all-time scoring champ.

Last season, Breivaite was named to the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference First-Team, one of only two Lady Colonials to ever earn the honor. The other was Meegan McGuire (Class of '95) whose 1499 career points are a school record.

"Meegan was a tremendous player who was responsible for turning our program into a winner," coach Tony Bozzella said. "But Rita can also score. She's one of the most dominating players we've had."

With two free throws at the end of an 88-56 trouncing of Molloy College, Breivaite upped her career total to 1001 points. Bozzella plans to make Breivaite even more of an inside force this season and hopes she'll pump in 18 points a game to challenge the scoring record. So far, with 54 points in three games, Breivaite is averaging exactly that. She is currently fifth on the Lady Colonials' all-time points list.

Breivaite is also unique in that she is identical. Her twin sister, Evelina, is a 6-3 defensive specialist, and the two look-alikes terrorize opponents on both ends of the floor. It was actually Meegan McGuire's dad who helped bring the 6-3 twin towers to the Hamptons.

John McGuire (whose siblings Al and Dick are the only brothers in the Basketball Hall of Fame) was in Eastern Europe when a friend convinced him to go to a high school basketball game in 1995. There he saw the Breivaites. He taped the game for Bozzella and the coach was amazed by their size and skill. Bozzella recruited them, they signed and the Breivaite-led Lady Colonials' were on their way toward two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles. Now Meegan McGuire's record is in jeopardy.

The Lady Colonials are 2-1 and considered one of the best NCAA Div. II teams in the Northeast. Their next home games are Tuesday, December 7, vs. Concordia at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, December 15, vs. Queens at 5:30 p.m.