#23
Vanessa Kabongo
Junior
Guard
Toronto, Ontario/Eastern Commerce

Summer 2009: Competed for Team Canada at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia from July 1-10 • averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds for Team Canada, which finished the tournament with a 2-5 record.

2008-09 Season: Was the only player on the team to start all 30 games on the season • ranked second on the team with 10.8 points per game, 65 steals and 37 assists • ranked sixth in the Colonial Athletic Association with 2.2 steals per game and 15th with 10.8 points per game • posted career-highs of 25 points and eight rebounds against George Mason (1/25) • scored 17 points against Maryland Eastern Shore (12/6) and Stony Brook (12/28) • added 16 points at UNC Wilmington (1/22) and 15 at La Salle (11/19) • reached double figures 16 times, including seven straight from Jan. 18 through Feb. 8 • posted a career-high six steals against Hofstra, UNC Wilmington and George Mason • named to Courtyard by Marriott LA Westside Holiday Classic at Loyola Marymount All-Tournament Team.

2007-08 Season: Appeared in all 31 games while starting 25 for the Blue Hens • tied for second on the team with 6.6 points per game and added 2.7 rebounds per contest • ranked third on the team with 24 assists • scored a season-high 17 points while tying season-bests with three assists and two steals at Towson (3/6) • recorded 14 points in the win over Northeastern (1/20) • scored 12 points in the home game against Towson (2/21) • had 11 points and five rebounds at Northeastern (2/3), and two games later scored a team-best 11 points while tying her season-high with six rebounds versus George Mason (2/10) • also had six boards against Hofstra (2/17) and in the CAA Tournament First Round game versus UNC Wilmington (3/13) • named to Panera Bread Challenge at UTC All-Tournament Team after scoring 11 points against Louisville (11/23) and adding 10 points and three assists versus Murray State (11/24) • scored a team-high 11 points against third-ranked Maryland (11/13) and La Salle (11/28) • reached double figures in 10 games on the season.

High School: Played three years at Eastern Commerce High School • led school to an undefeated season and 2004 city championship, and the 2006 city championship • Eastern Commerce advanced to the city finals in 2005 • was one of 12 players selected to attend Canada Basketball’s National Elite Development Academy last year • played in five games at the 2005 USAB Youth Festival, averaging 16.4 minutes, 3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game • won a gold medal with Team Ontario at the 2005 Canada Games and a silver medal at the 2005 U15 National Championships • also played in five games at the U20 FIBA Americas Qualifier in Mexico City last year and trained with the Junior Women’s National Team in Colorado Springs • voted to the first All-Star team at the 2006 National Championships and named 2006 All-Canadian Rising Star.

Personal: Vanessa Ntumba Kabongo • daughter of Touré Mukendi and Néné Kabongo • born in Democratic Republic of the Congo • has brothers Emmanuel, Henry, Billy, Myck, and Jonathan • Emmanuel played two years at George Brown College in Toronto • accounting major at Delaware • worked as a basketball camp instructor over the summer • enjoys reading, relaxing with family and friends, shopping, and watching movies in her spare time.