Nicole Zapolski ’05 is recognized for her play on the basketball court, as one the top female athletes to grace the hardwood at the college.
Zapolski was a four-year starter on a team that put forth the best four-year record of any women’s basketball team at the College. From 2001-2005, the Keystone women’s basketball team compiled a mark of 82-24, resulting in a .773 winning percentage.
That squad tasted the post-season in each of her four years. Her freshman and sophomore seasons saw the Giants reach the NJCAA Region XIX title game. Her junior season, the team’s first competing at the four year level, Keystone made it as far as the USCAA National Championships, eventually finishing third in the USCAA. In Zapolski’s senior campaign Keystone ran the table in the NEAC, completing a perfect regular season at 15-0, before falling in the finals of the conference tournament.
Post-season accolades usually followed Zapolski, as her play was the cornerstone of very competitive Keystone teams. She earned NJCAA Region XIX All-Region accolades following her freshman and sophomore seasons, while also earning a spot on the NJCAA All-American Team following her sophomore year.
In 2004, after her junior year, she picked up a USCAA All-American Team nod. She capped off a great career in style following her senior season, when she was named as the NEAC Player of the Year.
Zapolski finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in Keystone women’s basketball history, tallying 1,390 points. Her point total also ranks as the second highest offensive output at Keystone, for either the women’s or men’s programs. She also had the distinction of becoming the first and only player in Keystone history, women’s or men’s, to score 1,000 points and record 1,000 rebounds, finishing with 1,073 rebounds.
She also stakes claim to two other records in the program, the all time made free throw leader with 353 and the all time season field goal percentage queen at 51.2%. Her 226 career steals are also second best in program history.
