Women's Basketball | 2/15/2020 7:52:00 AM

GAMEDAY (Feb. 15, 2020): RPI hosts RIT in its regular season home finale teams ... The Engineers are 13-9 overall and 9-6 in the Liberty League, while the Tigers are 10-12 and 8-7.

SENIOR DAY: Prior to tip-off seniors Sam Krumbhaar, Ines Ortea and Celia Tomlinson, along with junior Lydnsey Stone, who is graduating a year early, will be recognized ... Additionally, below are messages to each, as written by a teammate...

•SAM KRUMBHAAR (Written by Ashlyn O'Neil):

Sam,
I know I'm only a freshman so I haven't known you for too long, but you've become one of my closest friends at RPI. With the time we've been playing basketball together I've realized you are such a role model to this team. You are a great leader, friend, and mentor.

Sam shows how dedicated she is to this sport everyday by pushing us all in practice to do our best. She has done one of the hardest things an athlete can do here at RPI, which is to be an architecture major and play basketball. I remember when I decided to come here and also be an architecture major, she said, "Just be ready for the days you have to pull all-nighters and then go to a 6am lift." I later realized this was a true statement that was definitely something she had experienced many times. If that doesn't show her dedication I don't know what would.

She also works in time, between a very tight architecture schedule, to come in and practice all the time.

Your hard working nature and dedication to this sport has made you become the great player you are today.

Sam, you have led our team, along with the other seniors, to many great victories and I know you will continue to play with your hearts in order for our team to have the best season possible.

Thank you for leading every day, pushing us all to go 110%, but also thank you for being the Sam we know and also making this year of basketball so much fun in the process of the grind. One thing we have quoted all year is a statement of Sam's, which is "We have unfinished business."

Your strong mentality as a player carries throughout your game, which is why you're a walking bucket, as well as throughout our team, making us stronger together. Your influence on the team will remain for a long time, as will the dance moves you showed us in the locker room after some big dubs. So let's get this dub today!

•INES ORTEA (Written by Taylor Travis):

Ines,
I am so grateful to have been able to play basketball with you these past few years. You are a great teammate and friend. I am glad I decided to join the team because if I didn't, I don't think we would have ever become such close friends. It is the friendship I will always value and remember.

As a walk on and being shy in nature it was so nice to have someone so friendly and welcoming all of the time and I will be forever grateful.

I am sorry we never look at each other at the same time during warmups when taki taki or dance monkey comes on but I will always be ready to dance towards the speaker with you and always think of you when I hear these songs.

Whether we are playing on the court or on the mean streets of Harbour Island barefoot you always give 100% and go for that W.

You are one of the smartest players I have ever played with and are always thinking two steps ahead. In the passing lanes or with your quick Spanish hands you always pick us up on defense. Getting all of these steals or being wide open under the basket you are the sneakiest player on the court. I feel like you always just appear out of nowhere and will be wide open for a layup. You can also cross anyone up and get all the way to the rim every time.

You are tough and a role model for everyone on the court. You deal with the physicality near the hoop and lead by example. You are always doing the right thing, know exactly what to do, work hard and are always willing to help others. You make everyone you play with a better player and always find the open player on the court.

You are a true leader and will definitely be missed next year. I know that everyone will miss you on and off the court. We will all miss your jokes and genuine friendship.

I wouldn't want to have dance battles or play truth or dare on the bus with anyone else and I certainly would not let anyone else put bright green makeup on me at the store in Sephora. I am going to miss you so much and am so happy we got to experience so many once in a lifetime things together.

I wish you the best of luck in the future and know you will be great at whatever you decide to do.

•LYNDSEY STONE (Written by Emily Vallee):

Lyndsey,
You were the first person I had the pleasure of meeting at RPI and one of the people who convinced me to come to this school. I can't thank you enough for not only being one of my best friends, but also bringing me 15 other friends.

I've had the pleasure of getting to know Lyndsey on and off the court. On the court, she is always ready to block your shots and push herself. 

Without a doubt, the hardest I've ever seen Lyndsey work is in the classroom. Her passion for educating herself is only matched by one thing - her love for the environment. The best example of her passion for learning is the fact that the girl had more than enough credits to graduate and a job offer, and still wanted to take extra classes in her last semester because she loves to learn.

The world is a better place, literally, because of Lyndsey. If anyone has had the privilege of knowing her personally, you definitely know you should recycle in her presence. She has organized many park clean ups for our team and probably has never used a plastic water bottle in her life.

Next year will not be the same without you, Lyndsey. We're all sad that you're leaving us early but know that it is your time to go out and change the world. Best of luck at Ramboll and in Virginia Beach. I can't wait to visit and see all your accomplishments first hand.

•CELIA TOMLINSON (Written by Courtney Lewis):

Dear Celia,
I honestly can't say enough about the impact you have had on our team and on this program. From bringing positive energy to practice every day to throwing every teammate a surprise party to yelling "game day" a minimum of 30 times every weekend to organizing all our new gear. You have brought this team together and truly made it a family both on and off the court. You have made this a place where everyone is excited to come to everyday.

I'm not sure if everyone knows this but Celia got a stress fracture last year and was out for almost the whole season. I'm also not sure if people know this but she has made up for not playing last year by doubling all her stats this year. She is 45% from the field, averaging 11.6 rebounds a game and 15.5 points a game. Averaging a double-double has given this team a huge inside presence. With 52 blocks this year, I would not only allow but encourage everyone to join in on the nickname Celia Blocklinson.

I'm really not sure what I and the rest of the team are going to do without you next year. You will leave huge shoes to fill and I can only hope our captains next year can be half as good as you were this year. 

I know you will be the best employee Proctor and Gamble has ever seen and if they have an after-work basketball league, I hope they watch out. It has been a privilege to play basketball with my best friend on the court for three years.