By Jim Hague
Ask Courtney Vacca what her rebound-per-game average is and the Rutgers-Newark junior forward could not give you an honest answer.
“I really don’t know what it is,” Vacca said.
But if you ask her what her grade point average is, then Vacca can give you a straight reply.
“It’s about a 3.7,” Vacca said. “I take a lot of pride in my school work.”
She should. The native of Wayne, N.J. is carrying a double major at R-N, studying both political science and criminal justice with the hope of one day going to law school and study sports/entertainment law.
For now, the 5-foot-11 power forward is content with being a major member of the women’s basketball program at R-N. During her first two seasons with the Scarlet Raiders, Vacca was more of a reserve player, coming off the bench to spell starter Stephanie Ross.
But now that Ross has graduated, Vacca has moved into the starting lineup and has remained a physical force in the process.
“I remember her once telling me that the more physical the game is, the better it is for her,” Rutgers-Newark women’s basketball coach Kevin Morris said. “Courtney is just a good physical presence inside, providing defense and rebounding.”
“When I first came here, I was a little nervous to play and I knew that there were people older than me who put their time in and deserved to play,” Vacca said. “I knew that there were others who were going to see more time than me. But this season, I’ve had a chance to step up and play more. We have a very young team, so I have to do whatever I can to help lead the team.”
Vacca has never been one to back down to a physical challenge.
“Considering I am one of the smallest post players in the league, the game gets tougher,”
Vacca said. “I’m going up against bigger girls and I have to hold my own. That’s the name of the game.”
And with those challenges come the physical difficulties.
“The ice bill in the training room has gone up tremendously since Courtney has arrived,” Morris laughed. “We must go through double the ice that we once did. It’s unbelievable how much she uses. She ices her knees, shoulder, neck, back, you name it.”
Again, Vacca said that it’s all part of the rigors of being a post performer in the rough-and-tumble world of the NJAC.
“I have to ice after every practice and every game,” Vacca said. “Playing against all the big girls really takes its toll physically. That’s just the way I play. I tend to get banged up a bit.”
If there’s one aspect to her game that riles the anger a bit in her coach, it’s Vacca’s too unselfish approach.
“She probably should be scoring more for us,” Morris said. “Maybe we have to get her the ball more.”
“I’m the kind of player who is always going to look for my teammates first,” Vacca said. “When I get the ball, I’m looking to pass the ball. I am more of a defensive player and a rebounder. I don’t think I’ve become more of a scorer.”
But that is what Morris wants _ more offensive production from Vacca.
“Yeah, I hear that every day in practice,” Vacca said. “I hear that I should shoot more.”
Or about getting offensive rebounds and kicking it out to a teammate instead of going back up with it?
“I hear about that one, too,” Vacca said. “But that’s just the way I play. It’s a hard habit to break.”
Vacca is averaging 5.2 points per game this season, her same scoring average as a year ago, but she’s averaging 7.6 rebounds per contest, more than double her rebound production of a year ago.
“It’s nice to have someone like that controlling the paint,” Morris said. “She’s been consistent for us and toughs it out when we need her to. She’s been a good soldier since she’s been here.”
Morris said that Vacca had received other offers from schools like Drew, the University of Scranton and Georgian Court, but R-N won out.
“We were recruiting her from the beginning,” Morris said. “I saw her play several times in high school (Wayne Hills, where Vacca was a three-sport standout in basketball, soccer and track and field). She visited the school, liked it and decided to come.”
“My final decision came down to Drew and Rutgers,” Vacca said. “Coach Morris recruited me all along and I really wanted the Rutgers education. It was the right choice.”
Vacca has become very involved as a student-athlete at R-N. She’s a member of the Student Athletic Association Committee (SAAC), which gets involved in community-related activities.
“We meet twice a month and organize things like toy drives at Christmas and food drives,” Vacca said. “We’re organizing a trip to serve food at a shelter in the future. It’s what we do, improving the lives of others.”
For her involvement and for her participation in the classroom, Vacca has been selected to represent Rutgers-Newark at the annual Women in Sports Day celebration at Seton Hall Sunday morning. Vacca will be in attendance at a special breakfast with several other noteworthy college and high school female athletes from New Jersey and will receive an award at halftime of the Seton Hall-St. John’s contest at Walsh Gymnasium.
“I think it’s an honor to be recognized for something I do both on and off the court,” Vacca said. “I’m proud of what I’ve done in school and I want to be recognized for more than just being a basketball player.”
And who knows? Maybe Courtney Vacca might be recognized for other talents later on, like perhaps as a sports agent.
“That would be nice,” Vacca said. “Hopefully, that can happen.”
