Photos courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. -- Former University of Delaware women’s basketball standouts, Tiara Malcom and Tyresa Smith, have been named to the Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball Silver Anniversary team announced Tuesday. The 25th-Anniversary team includes 17 former CAA Players of the Year, 10 All-America selections and nine WNBA draft picks.

Malcom (on left), a 2005 graduate of Delaware with a degree in family and community services, was a four-year standout for the Blue Hens under current head coach, Tina Martin. Now an assistant under Martin, Malcom lead the squad to a four-year mark of 89-32, CAA regular-season titles in 2003 and 2005, and berths to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament three times. The Hens, who went 55-15 in conference action during Malcom’s career, appeared in the CAA Tournament championship game in both 2003 and 2005.

Serving as captain of the 2004-05 squad, the Wilmington, Del. native was a three-time All-CAA selection, earning second team honors in 2003 and 2004 before garnering first team recognition in 2005 when she was named CAA Player of the Year after leading the league in scoring with 15.5 points per game while ranking among the league leaders with 6.8 rebounds per contest.

She became just the third player in UD history to be named conference player of the year, and was named the University of Delaware’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year for the 2004-05 season.

A two-time CAA All-Tournament team honoree, Malcom set school records for career free throws made (535, also CAA record), and double-figure scoring games (88) and currently ranks No. 5 all-time in scoring (1,545 points), No. 5 in blocks (109), and No. 9 in rebounding (794) for the Blue Hens. She averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for her career.

Malcom was a two-time CAA Dean Ehlers Award candidate for overall contributions on the court, classroom, and community and went on to play professionally during the 2005-06 season in Barreiro, Portugal with the GD ESSA Basketball Club.

Smith (on right), a 2007 graduate of UD, was twice named CAA Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the first team All-CAA in 2005-06 and 2006-07. The Dover, Del. native was also an All-Region 2 honoree in 2006-07 as a senior captain.

Serving as the Blue Hens’ all-time leader in steals (342) and second in the ranks for career scoring (1,635 points), Smith was a second-round draft pick by the Phoenix Mercury in 2007. She went on to play for the 2008 WNBA Championship team, the Detroit Shock, and now competes professionally in Europe.

Smith enjoyed a standout year in 2007 as she helped the Hens to a mark of 26-6 overall, 16-2 CAA, and an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. During her senior campaign, Smith broke school records for the most points in a season (632), field goals (230), field goals attempted (521), and free throws made (172).

Setting the career record for most games played, Smith recorded 104 starts while seeing action in 122 games from 2003-07. Additionally she was named team MVP in 2006 and 2007, and named the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association Delaware Athlete of the Year in 2007.

As part of its 25th Anniversary celebration in 2009-10, the CAA is recognizing Silver Anniversary teams in 21 championship sports. The teams are selected by a panel of current and former head coaches in the conference.

The CAA has established an outstanding reputation nationally in women’s basketball since the league’s inception in 1985, and the conference has produced numerous standout performers and teams. Old Dominion has been the conference’s dominant program, winning an NCAA-record 17 consecutive CAA championships from 1992-2008. James Madison captured the first four CAA titles from 1986-89, and Richmond followed with back-to-back conference crowns in 1990 and 1991. Drexel won its first CAA championship in 2009.

Old Dominion provided the signature moment in CAA women’s basketball when it reached the NCAA National Championship game in 1997. The Lady Monarchs also advanced to the Elite Eight in 2002 and reached the Sweet 16 five times. James Madison made four Sweet 16 appearances in a six-year period from 1986-91. The Dukes upset top-seeded Virginia in 1986 and national #1 seed Penn State in 1991.

The Delaware duo are joined on the Anniversary team by Meredith Alexis (James Madison), Mery Andrade (Old Dominion), Kristine Austgulen (VCU), Sydney Beasley (James Madison), Lucienne Berthieu (Old Dominion), Sylvia Bragg (East Carolina), Pam Bryant (Richmond), Monique Coker (Old Dominion), Natalie Diaz (Old Dominion), Shareese Grant (Old Dominion), Tonya Hargrove (East Carolina), Alisa Harris (James Madison), Celeste Hill (Old Dominion), Quanitra Hollingsworth (VCU), Floretta Jackson (James Madison), T.J. Jordan (Old Dominion), Kyra Kaylor (William and Mary), Clarisse Machanguana (Old Dominion), Hamchetou Maiga (Old Dominion), Gabriela Marginean (Drexel), Ticha Penicheiro (Old Dominion), Nyree Roberts (Old Dominion) and Tamera Young (James Madison).