BANGOR, Maine — Husson University director of athletics Frank Pergolizzi is proud to announce Bailey Donovan as the 2021-22 Clara Swan Athlete of the Year. She will be honored at the 2022 Husson University Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Dec. 2 at the Anah Shrine in Bangor.

"Both Bailey and Joel are truly champions in their own right," said director of athletics Frank Pergolizzi. "They definitely deserved to be selected as student athletes of the year."

Bailey Donovan reached new heights in 2021-22, as she became just the second player in Husson women's basketball program history to average a double-double joining Sue Skinner '76 who accomplished the feat back in 1973.  

The 2021-22 North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year contributed 20.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 63.8% (166-260) from the field, 37.5% (3-8) from three-point range, and 73.1% (114-156) from the free throw line over 22 contests this past year.

She closed out the season ranked first in the NAC and fourth in the country in rebounds per game, seventh in the nation with 9.0 defensive rebounds and 4.9 offensive boards per game. Additionally, she led the conference and finished second in the nation in field goal percentage, while being tied for fourth in the country with 19 double-doubles. She also finished with the third-best blocks per game average in the NAC.

In 2021-22, Donovan recorded twelve games with twenty or more points, three games with thirty or more, while racking up eleven games with fifteen or more rebounds and two games with 20 or more boards.
Donovan was named the NAC Player of the Week an impressive six times in her historical season wearing green and gold, and was also recognized numerous times by the Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the New England Women's Basketball Association for her prowess on the court. She was selected to the MWBCA All-State First Team, d3Hoops.com All-Region 1 Second Team, NEWBA All-Region Second Team, and to the NAC All-Conference First Team. Donovan was also selected as the MWBCA Player of the Year becoming just the second Eagle in program history to receive this honor.

The Island Falls native's, best week of the season took place in the beginning of February, as she led the Eagles to a 4-0 week after averaging 22.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game including a 30-point, 10-rebound performance at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon. Additionally, Donovan finished the week with four double-doubles, 13 assists, 13 blocks and four steals. For her efforts, Donovan became the first player in program history to be named U.S. Basketball Writers Association DIII National Player of the Week. 

This past season, Donovan smashed the single-season records for scoring average and rebounding average that had gone uncontested for 32 years and 48 years, respectively. She also broke the single-season NCAA-era records for defensive rebounds with 199 and defensive rebounding average en-route to becoming just the fourth player in school history to grab 300 or more rebounds and the first in eleven years.

With all the accomplishments that Donovan had on the hardwood in 2021-22, she capped off the season by earning Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Coaches' All-American Honorable Mention honors to become the first women's basketball All-American since Husson joined the NCAA in 2003 and the first All-American since Liza Doughty earned the prestigious honors in 2001.

Donovan enters the 2022-23 season having scored 933 points with 654 rebounds, 61 assists, 111 blocks and 55 steals in 54 career games. She already holds the Eagles' career records for scoring average (17.3), field goal percentage (64.2) and rebounding average (12.1). She ranks third in blocked shot average (2.1), sixth in blocked shots, ninth in rebounds, 15th in free throws made (214), 21st in free throws attempted (293), 23rd in field goals made (358), 23rd in free throws percentage (73.0) and 25th in points.