Head Appalachian State University women's basketball coach Angel Elderkin finalized the coaching staff with the addition of former Le Moyne assistant women's basketball assistant coach Cristina Centeno to the same role on Thursday, May 18, 2017.
"We are thrilled to have Cristina join our program," Elderkin said. "She brings a tremendous amount of energy and passion to the position. She has an infectious personality that our student-athletes, recruits and community will gravitate to. I have watched Cristina grow up in this profession under my mentor, Gina Castelli, and I cannot wait to she what she will bring to Appalachian State Women's Basketball."
In Centeno's second season, she helped the Black and Gold collect 22 victories and a WBI Tournament championship. She continued to turn the backcourts into one of the best in the league. In Centeno and Ashley Polacek's first season together, Polacek led the Mountaineers in assists per game at a rate of 4.4 per game, which was tied for second in the Sun Belt. The Canadian floor general's 158 assists were second in the league as well, while her 1.5 assist/turnover ratio was sixth in the conference. Polacek led all collegiate players from Canada in assists per game, while she was the only player in the league to average at least 10 points and four helpers per game.
Polacek made the notched 14 of her 17 games in double figures over the last 23 contests in the season. She put forth three 20-point outings, highlighted by a career-high 27 points at UTA. The redshirt junior averaged 15 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists over a 4-0 stretch in the WBI Tournament.
Centeno helped the trio of Brooke Bigott, Nicola Mathews and Tierra Wilson become viable options off the bench. Wilson went from the starting point guard to the team's leading scorer off the bench, draining a team-high 57 3-pointers and averaging 7.6 points per game. Wilson led all players with five starts or less coming off the bench in 3-point shooting.
Mathews continued her trend of hitting 3-pointers and showcasing her court vision, specifically in non-conference play. Mathews led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (.426) and fourth in assists per game. Bigott appeared in 29 of 36 games, and had the sixth most assists. She scored a career-high 14 points on the road
against Coastal Carolina. Thirty-seven percent of her rebounds were on the offensive end, corralling 16 of her 43 rebounds on that end.
Centeno's development of the point guards in Tierra Wilson and Nicola Mathews proved to be pivotal as Wilson made a splash in her first year, finishing second on the team in scoring (10.2 ppg) and first in 3-pointers with 56. Wilson was third among freshman in scoring, first in free throw percentage (.811), second in 3-pointers made and 3-pointers made per game and first in minutes per game at a clip of 34.1.
Also playing in her first season, Mathews led the way averaging 3.0 assists per game and tied for second on the team with 38 trifectas. The Australian made big plays all season including a 3-pointer against Arkansas State that proved to be the game winner at the Holmes Center. Mathews finished 11th in the conference in assists per game and 10th in assist/turnover ratio at 0.8.
Centeno will hit the ground running as she'll contribute to recruiting, scouting, player development and coaching up the point guards. A point guard herself at Siena and the Puerto Rico National Team leading up to the 2012 Olympics, Centeno will provide her knowledge and expertise to the returning and incoming guards.
Prior to App State, Centeno spent four seasons at Le Moyne where she was responsible for player development and recruiting. Le Moyne finished with a winning record in three out of the four seasons, while in her first season, the Dolphins improved from six to 15 wins overall and four to 10 wins in conference play.
Centeno helped with the development of freshman McKayla Roberts, who averaged 11.2 points per game en route to being named the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year. Also, Centeno assisted in the development of Vandell Andrade, who was named Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, second-team all-confererence and 2016 WBCA Division II All-American Honorable Mention. In 2016-17, Centeno helped the Dolphins reach the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals for the second time in 21 seasons.
“It is with great excitement that I join the Mountaineer family,” stated Centeno. “I am extremely humbled and blessed to be a part of Coach Elderkin's staff. Her positive energy and incredible vision for the program inspires me to help lead this program to the top of the Sun Belt Conference.”
A starter all four years at Siena, Centeno enjoyed a decorated career where she is 10th all-time in school history with 343 assists. She is just is one of only 13 players in the history of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to record career totals of at least 900 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 3-pointers.
Centeno was selected fourth overall by the Quebradillas Pirates in the 2012 Draft of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF). During the 2012 season, Centeno averaged 11.8 points (3rd on the team), 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a team-best 1.8 steals to earn BSNF Rookie of the Year accolades while guiding the Pirates to the regular season championship and a spot in the BSNF championship game.
Centeno graduated in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in business management.
What they're saying about Centeno
“Angel (Elderkin) has hired a gem! Cristina Centeno is a very talented and gifted coach! She is passionate about the game and extremely knowledgeable. Her character is beyond measure, and she will bring out the best in others!
Gina Castelli - Le Moyne Head Women's Basketball Coach
