SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Former Santa Clara women's basketball star Nici Gilday has signed a contract with a Romanian professional team CSU Alba Iulia. Gilday reports at the end of August to begin her pro career.
"I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love," Gilday said. "I'm so grateful to Coach JR, Coach T, Coach Shan, and Coach B for helping make my dream a reality. I'm lucky to have such amazing support from great coaches and my family as well."
"I am so proud of Nici for all that she's accomplished and excited to see what she will do with her professional career," said Santa Clara head coach JR Payne. "She has achieved so much here at SCU both academically and athletically and I have no doubt that she will have a fabulous career overseas. We will certainly miss her leadership and work ethic but will be excited to follow her season in Romania."
In 2014-15 Gilday led the Broncos in scoring (19.1), minutes (1,024), field goals (189), field goals attempted (481), threes (72), threes attempted (200), three-point percentage (.360), and free throws (104). She also led the country in free throw percentage at 94.5% (104-110), two percent better than the second place finisher (Arlesia Morse, Marquette, 92.5%). Gilday finished her career No. 4 in scoring (1,417), No. 8 in scoring average (11.9), No. 4 in field goals (517), No. 4 in field goal attempts (1,245), No. 10 in threes attempted (367), No. 1 in free throw percentage, Noma. 8 in steals (151), T-No. 2 in games played (119), and No. 4 in minutes played (3,410).
On the single season list, Gilday's 2014-15 ranked No. 5 in points (554), No. 6 in scoring average (19.1), T-No. 6 in field goals (189), No. 2 in field goal attempts (481), T-No. 7 in threes (72), No. 8 in threes attempted (200), and No. 1 in free throw percentage (94.5%). Gilday and Marie Bertholdt placed ninth on the tandem-scoring list with a combined 834 points.