WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Former Monmouth University women's basketball star Jennifer Bender (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech) has signed a one-year professional contract to play with the SV Halle Lions of the German DBBL league this coming season. Bender is the first Monmouth women's basketball player to sign a professional contract since Niamh Dwyer signed to play in Ireland in 2006.
“I'm very excited for the opportunity to make money playing basketball, this is a dream come true for me,” said Bender. “I never thought this would happen, to be able to have basketball be my job is amazing.”
Bender, a First Team All-Northeast Conference selection this past season as a senior, Bender became the 14th player in Monmouth history to reach 1,000 points and closed out her star-studded career sixth on the school's all-time career list with 1,301 points and 727 rebounds, respectively. She also compiled a 3.50 grade point average majoring in Communications, was named the NEC Winter Scholar-Athlete and also earned a place on the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine District II Academic All-American Team this season.
“Jen Bender left her mark on Monmouth women's basketball and we are proud that she will represent Monmouth and the NEC professionally overseas,” said Monmouth head women's basketball coach Stephanie V. Gaitley. “This is an outstanding opportunity for Jen to showcase her individual talents and also proves the strength of our program.”
The Staten Island, N.Y. native led the Hawks with 16.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, respectively, figures that placed her sixth and fifth in the league as a senior. Bender also ranked sixth in the league in double-doubles (eight), ninth in field goal percentage (.451) and 15th in free throw shooting (.753).
She was named the MVP and Defensive Player of the Tournament in leading Monmouth to the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic championship in El Paso, Texas in November, as well. Last season, SV Halle went 15-7, finishing third in the DBBL.
“I want to try and play professionally long-term,” said Bender. “I want to see how it's going to be and how far I can go.”
