Former Biola women’s basketball standout Jessilyn Conicelli has signed a contract to play professional basketball for Jeugd Gentson, a top-division team from Ghent, Belgium. She becomes one of just a handful of Biola women’s players to compete professionally.

“I’m really excited and nervous about the move, but it’s my passion and dream," said Conicelli, who became Biola’s first GSAC Player of the Year in 2010-11.

After graduating from Biola in May 2011, Conicelli began working in sales at L.A. Fitness. In the beginning of October, she received a call from her agent saying Belgium was interested in her playing pro basketball. However, she had 48 hours to make her decision.

Conicelli, who is currently living in Redlands, was not sure if she was ready for such a big move in such a short amount of time. After wrestling with serious doubts, she decided moving overseas was the right choice.

“I prayed for days asking God if this was what I was suppose to do,” said Conicelli. “But I figured God wouldn’t send me if He wasn’t going to use me.”

Conicelli will start her journey playing pro ball right away. The team is already into the second game of its six-month season, and she had just two days between landing in Belgium and her first game on Oct. 8. She will have a short amount of time to adapt quickly to new plays and teammates.

At 22 years old, Conicelli is the only American on the team and one of the oldest. Biola University’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Bethany Miller credits Conicelli’s hard work and dedication to her success.

“I am so excited for her to have this opportunity,” said Miller. “She deserves it because of her work ethic and drive. She is going to do a great job representing the Lord overseas…she has strong character.”

In her first game with Jeugd Gentson, Conicelli scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in 26 minutes, though the team lost 72-67 on the road to Crack Blue Cats.

For her career, Conicelli scored 1,595 points – fifth all-time at Biola – and recorded 1,135 rebounds – second all-time. She is one of only two Biola players to ever score 1,500 points and pull down 1,000 rebounds.

Conicelli is the first Biola player to be named a first-team All-American on the NAIA level, earning the honor last year. She finished the 2010-11 season leading the Golden State Athletic Conference in both scoring and rebounding. Conicelli averaged 18.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, ranking third in the NAIA in rebounding and 14th in scoring. She was the lone GSAC player to average a double-double on the season – a feat she accomplished in each of the last three seasons.

Biola’s women’s basketball team opens their 2011-12 season with three scrimmages and exhibitions, the final of which comes against NCAA Division I Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2:00 p.m.

Written by Melissa Soto, Media Relations Intern. For more information, please contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.eduor via phone at 562.777.4061.