Oliver Ames Girls' Basketball Standout Caitlyn Abela to Play at Sacred Heart University

Oliver Ames girls' basketball standout Caitlyn Abela signed a letter of intent Monday afternoon to play basketball at Div. 1 Sacred Heart University.

Abela, who helped lead Oliver Ames to a combined 36-8 record over the last two seasons, saw the Northeast Conference school in Connecticut as the perfect fit.

"I really like the basketball team and the coaches and the campus," she said."I want to major in physical therapy and they have a really good program there."

She signed the letter of intent with Oliver Ames Athletic Director Bill Matthews, Oliver Ames coach Elaine Clement-Holbrook and her parents, Diann and Mike Abela.

Abela will join a program that has seen plenty of success in recent years. Under 23-year coach Ed Swanson, the Pioneers finished last season as conference champions with a 25-8 overall record and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where they fell to Georgia Tech.

Abela plays small forward for the Lady Tigers and hopes her skillset will help the Pioneers.

"I’m working hard," she said. "I’m hoping to be able to go in and help the team."

She still has unfinished business in Easton.

In her senior year, Abela hopes to avenge an early exit from the MIAA tournament last year with another division championship and a playoff run.

"We’re going to take it one game at a time," she said. "I want to first of all win the Hock and then state shampionships."