ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The summer session for UAlbany women's basketball gets underway next week. The Great Danes are bringing in nine new players - four of which are arriving through the transfer portal. That includes Shenendehowa graduate Bella Stuart, who will be making her return to the Capital Region.
Stuart has spent the last four seasons with fellow America East squad New Hampshire, so she'll be coming in as a graduate transfer.
At 5 feet 11 inches, Stuart acts as a swing player; a kind of guard-forward hybrid. Head coach Colleen Mullen praised Stuart's post play, but also highlighted her face-up and beyond-the-arc capabilities.
A two-time sectional champion with Shen in 2019 and 2020, this is a full-circle moment for Stuart, as she joins the team she grew up watching.
"I want to bring a championship back to Albany," said Stuart. "I know they did a couple years ago, but being close to home - me being able to be on the team, and bring it home - it'd mean so much."
Part of Stuart's decision to come to UAlbany also stems from a strong relationship with Mullen, and the respect she gained for the program during her time in Durham.
"She's a UNH alum, so we had that in common," said Stuart. "I've known her since I was playing in high school. And then, obviously, playing against her for four years. I just love the way UAlbany's program has gone these past four years; they've been hard to beat. Being able to be a part of it and being coached under Colleen...I'm very excited."
It shouldn't take Stuart too long to get acclimated to some of her new teammates. She played AAU ball with Cambridge grad Lilly Phillips, competed against Saratoga Springs' Abby Ray in Section II, and, of course, reunites with her old Shen teammate, Meghan Huerter.
"I talked to her (Huerter) about her experience at UAlbany, 'cause she transferred in too. Ultimately, when I decided, I kinda surprised her with a question, like, "You wanna be teammates again?" It's gonna be like...we picked up where we left off. We won two Section II championships together, and hoping to make an America East championship. It's gonna be so much fun. We have a really good connection on the court."
Stuart averaged 6.3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds last season with the Wildcats, while shooting 46% from the floor. After serving in a bench role to start the season, she moved into the starting lineup on Jan. 18, and started nine straight games before suffering a season-ending injury. She'd miss UNH's final three contests.
