Damaris Rodriguez may have spent just one year in West Long Branch, New Jersey, but she made every moment count—delivering one of the most remarkable seasons in Monmouth women's basketball history.

Rodriguez became the first player in program history to earn a spot on the CAA First Team All-Conference, averaging 14.6 points and 3.5 assists per game. She also earned All-Met Honorable Mention recognition. Her season featured 20 double-figure scoring performances, including two 27-point games against Saint Peter's (Nov. 26) and William & Mary (Jan. 12).

"Honestly, that's still one of my greatest achievements—especially going from Division III to Division I," Rodriguez said.

Although her collegiate career has come to a close, Rodriguez's basketball journey is far from over. She recently signed her first professional contract to play in Gacelo, Spain with Club Cortegada—an opportunity made possible through the connections of her Monmouth coaching staff.

Her path to Monmouth was anything but traditional. Before becoming a Hawk, Rodriguez starred at New Jersey City University a Division III school, where she became the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,918 points. 
A Secaucus, New Jersey native, Rodriguez said what drew her to Monmouth was its proximity to home.

"I lost my dad when I was 10, so my mom being able to come to games was a big part of my journey," Rodriguez said. "Having my friends and family in the stands meant a lot to me—especially having them there after games, win or lose. I'm really big on family, and that goes a long way for me."

She also credited head coach Cait Wetmore for making Monmouth feel like the right fit.

"I chose Monmouth because Cait was consistent with me," Rodriguez said. "In all of our conversations, I thought she was genuine and cool. When I went on my visit, I fell in love with the school—and I loved her as a person. The coaching staff was very nice, the gym was great, and it's only seven minutes from the beach. I'm a big beach person, so I knew this was where I wanted to play."

Rodriguez admitted she knew deep down she wanted to commit as soon as she received the offer from Coach Cait—but she didn't right away.

"On my visit, my godfather asked the coaches to step out of the room and said, 'What are you waiting for? This is perfect.' Once they came back in, I told them I was going to commit," she recalled. "Coach Cait told me, 'You got this, you're going to be so good here.' And I said, 'No—we got this.' I wanted to do this with her. It was her first year as a Division I head coach and my first year playing Division I women's basketball."

One of Rodriguez's biggest takeaways from her year at Monmouth was learning resilience—and how to believe in herself.

"I was at Division III for four years, and it's a lot different," she said. "The first two weeks, I would cry every single day and tell my mom, 'I don't think I can do this.' But Coach Cait believed in me throughout the entire process."

She recalled a turning point when Coach Cait gave her a book titled The Positive Dog, along with a handwritten message inside.

"I'm not a big reader, but that book helped me tremendously," Rodriguez said. "It taught me to be positive and speak highly of myself. Mentally, it helped a lot. Coach Cait poured so much belief into me—and that made me believe in myself more."

Looking back, Rodriguez calls her lone season at Monmouth one of the most meaningful experiences of her life.

"My year at Monmouth was one of the greatest years of my life," she said. "The difference between Division I and Division III is a whole different atmosphere. It shaped me into becoming better, stronger, and faster. That one year pushed me to another level. Going against better competition prepared me for what's next."

She said her coaches always reminded her of her impact—especially when she was hard on herself.

"Even when I thought I was playing badly, they would say, 'Look, you have five assists—that's at least 10 points contributed to our team.' They never let me forget I was a huge part of the team."

Despite only wearing the blue and white for one season, Rodriguez said she created lifelong bonds with her teammates.
"They're people I know I'll have in my life forever," she said.

While Monmouth helped her grow as a basketball player, Rodriguez said she's most grateful to Coach Cait for helping her grow as a person.

"She took a chance on me, and I'll never forget that," Rodriguez said. "I'm so thankful for her and for Monmouth—it changed my life."

Now, as she prepares to continue her basketball career overseas, Rodriguez admits she's feeling a mix of emotions—but mostly excitement.

"Since I was a little girl, I wanted to play professional basketball," she said. "After playing at Monmouth, I feel ready."