Iona women's head basketball coach Anthony Bozzella has announced the promotion of Christi Abbate to associate head coach and Mandy Myers to first assistant, as well as the addition of Jessica De Palo to the coaching staff.

Abbate, who will be entering her fifth season with the Gaels and tenth as a member of Bozzella's staff, will now serve as associate head coach. She will continue her role as defensive coordinator for Iona.

"This promotion is certainly long overdue for Christi," stated Bozzella. "I feel she is one of the brightest coaches that I have ever encountered in my 14 years as a head coach."

Myers, who will be in her fifth season on Bozzella's staff after playing two years under him at Long Island, will become the first assistant and recruiting coordinator. She will remain the offensive coordinator for the Gaels.

"Mandy is clearly deserving of this promotion," said Bozzella. "Our recruiting continues to get better each year as a direct result of her hard work and organization."

"I cannot express my gratitude enough for the loyalty and dedication Christi and Mandy have shown to my programs throughout the years."

De Palo comes to Iona from Lehigh University, where she spent one year as a graduate assistant after a standout career on the court for the Mountain Hawks. She is the school's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,466 points and fifth all-time leading rebounder with 639. A native of Rumson, NJ, De Palo was named Patriot League Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 18.5 points per game.

After graduating from Lehigh in 2005, De Palo took charge of film exchange and the academic support program on the staff of her alma mater. She also served as the administrative assistant. "I'm very excited that Jess has joined my staff," said Bozzella. "She has great credibility having been a top player, and her energy and enthusiasm will be a welcome addition to the program."

Iona finished the 2005-06 season at 17-12 overall and 13-5 in the MAAC.

The NCAA is trimming the gray area from eligibility rules for underclassmen entering the NBA draft.

However, player-agent Bill Neff said that's a futile exercise, with many in his profession cutting under-the-table deals with players.

The NCAA recently distributed a four-page memo, reminding schools what underclassmen can and cannot do to test their NBA marketability. The memo warns underclassmen not to accept travel expenses from NBA basketball teams, though that's been common practice in the past.

One of the authors of that memo said its purpose is heading off trouble and, potentially, holding rule-breakers accountable.

"It's fair to say we've had multiple student-athletes facing possible violations of NCAA rules," said Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA's director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities. "We're trying to avoid (those problems), so we're not dealing with it next semester."

The NCAA now requires underclassmen in the draft to sign forms, stating they know the rules and understand the risk to their eligibility.

"We want it very clear up front," Newman Baker said, "if we do get into investigating a case, the `I-didn't-know' answer will not work."

The NCAA dealt with messy situations the past few years, involving former Connecticut forward Charlie Villanueva and current Kentucky center Randolph Morris. Each turned pro and had contact with an agent, only to pull out of the draft and seek to play college basketball.

In both cases, the NCAA ultimately granted eligibility.

The situation is complex. For instance, the NCAA allows the NBA to cover expenses for an underclassman to attend the pre-draft camp. But an individual NBA team cannot pay to fly in an underclassman for a workout without jeopardizing that player's eligibility.

Charlotte Bobcats coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff didn't know the NCAA draws that distinction. Jon Fagg, assistant athletics director for compliance services at N.C. State, said that rule is frequently disregarded, similar to how people absent-mindedly exceed the speed limit.

"If you drive to work, I guarantee there's a place where you speed a little every day," Fagg said of athletes accepting expenses they shouldn't. "Do you drive to the police station and turn yourself in? No."

That's why Fagg is glad the NCAA distributed this memo, eliminating any gray areas for underclassmen looking to preserve eligibility. N.C. State has already used it to guide sophomore center Cedric Simmons through the process.

On the experience their team has, growing up in New York City
A lot of us have played together - played with and against each other - along the way. Once we came here, we grew as a family. We know each other well, and look after each other. We have good chemistry.

On his initial thoughts of LSU
They have a good freshman in Thomas, he's a shotblcoker. And Glen Davis is going to be a tough to handle. Mitchell is a talented guard and is a good shooter. They're a very tough and scrappy team.

On the mood of the team
Well, it's nice to finally we know who we're going to play. Before that, our practices were just us scrimmaging and playing full-court. Today, we know who we're playing and things we have to work on. Today's practice was just different. We took things a little more seriously, we talked more and helped each other out more. It was a different feeling, a good feeling.

He also knows his Gaels can be ... shall we say adventurous?

Now, they're the MAAC champions after beating Saint Peter's in the final Monday night in Albany.

"If they really want to win this tournament, they'll win it," Ruland said earlier in the tourney. "It's no disrespect to anyone else. If they're all on the same page, it could be scary."

After surrendering the double-bye with a loss to Manhattan in the regular-season finale, the Gaels beat Niagara and Marist to reach the finals and then ran their record to 23-7 with an 80-61 win over the upstart Peacocks in the championship game.

The win gave Iona its record seventh MAAC title, but its first since 2001. That, of course, makes it the first for this very special senior class, led by Steve Burtt.

Burtt's 17th point of a 21-point first half allowed him to hit the 2,000-point plateau, a mark also reached by his dad, Steve Sr., the all-time leading scorer at the New Rochelle, N.Y., school.

Now, the Gaels sit back and wait for Selection Sunday, and where they will go to represent this league. And, considering the schedule this team has played, don't be shocked to see Iona at least get by the first round of the NCAA Tournament -- especially considering their talented guards.

 Ricky Soliver had 22 points and eight steals and keyed a late rally to give Iona an 83-79 win over Rider on Wednesday night.

 Trailing 75-71 with 3:17 left in the game, Iona went on an 8-2 run that featured four points by Soliver.    Terrance Mouton then hit two free throws to tie the score at 79-79 with 49 seconds left, but the Broncs failed to score again and Iona earned the win by making four of six free throws in the closing seconds, the final two by Soliver.

 Steve Burtt added 20 points for the Gaels (19-5, 13-3 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), while Anthony Bruin had 19 points and Kiril Wachsmann pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.

 Jason Thompson had a game-high 26 points and eight rebounds for the Broncs (8-16, 4-12), while Edwin Muniz added 12 points.