ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Recent St. Bonaventure University graduate Katie Healy will continue her basketball playing career this fall after signing a professional contract with a team in Athens, Greece.
Healy will head overseas in September to play for Panionios in the A1 Ethniki women’s basketball league which is comprised of 10 teams all based in Greece.
“I am beyond excited to get to play in Greece,” Healy said. “It is a dream come true to not only be able to play professionally but to also get to do it in a country that I’ve always wanted to go to.”
She was introduced to representatives of the team through her agent whom she met at the WNBA/overseas combine in Indianapolis following the school year.
Healy finished one of the best careers in Bonaventure women’s basketball history earlier this year after leading the Bonnies to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was named First Team All-Atlantic 10, her second first team honor and third all-conference selection overall, by scoring 15.3 points with 6.8 rebounds per game. Healy finished the regular season as the only player in the Atlantic 10 to rank among the conference’s top 15 in scoring, rebounding, blocks, field goal percentage and assists per game.
She finished her career as one of just two Bonnies with over 1,600 points and 800 rebounds. Healy ranks fourth in Bona career scoring (1,708 points), third in rebounds (833), first in blocks (155), fourth in made field goals (624) and free throws (453), fourth in double-figure performances (88) and tied seventh in field goal percentage (46.8 percent).
As the focal point of the Bonnies offense for much of the past four years, Healy learned that constantly evolving her play was a key to success. She says the lessons learned while with the Brown and White will help her make the next step to the professional level.
“I saw a lot of doubles (in college) and a million different defenses and had to learn how to really play on the move,” she said of her college career. “My play became reading defenses and countering them rather than predetermining everything and at the next level you need that. I have a lot of work to do, but I can’t wait to get better and to compete.”
Panionios reached the Greek Cup Semifinals in 2012 and was the league champion in 2007.
“I definitely have to thank St. Bonaventure and my coaches for preparing me and getting me to this point,” she said. “I’m also so thankful for the coaches at Panionios for giving me this opportunity to play. I can’t wait to get over there in September.”
