Bucknell University Athletics
Former Bucknell Women's Basketball Standout Desire Almind Signs with NWBL
1/17/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Former Bucknell women's basketball star Desire Almind '04 last week signed to play with the Birmingham Power of the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) in 2005. The six-team league opened its fifth season last weekend.
Almind, who played professionally in France in 2004, is the third-leading scorer in Bucknell history and was a first-team All-Patriot League selection last year after averaging career highs in both points (17.3) and rebounds (13.4). She missed out on the national rebounding title by just two boards. Her 390 rebounds were the most by a Bison in a single season, eclipsing Kirsten Ellison's 14-year-old record by 91. That figure also marked the most by a Patriot League player in the history of the conference.
A native of Blairstown, N.J., Almind was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2000-01, and was selected second team All-League twice. She finished her career third on Bucknell's career scoring list with 1,581 points. Her 873 career rebounds also rank third in Bison history. By tallying 502 points as a senior, Almind became just the third Bucknell player to ever reach that figure.
As a sophomore, Almind helped lead Bucknell to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. During an 80-56 loss to Baylor in the first round Almind scored 14 points.
Almind is the second former Bucknell player to sign with an NWBL team this year. Molly Creamer, a 2003 Bucknell graduate, is a member of the Lubbock Hawks. Through two games the 5-10 guard was averaging 6.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
The Power, which opens its season Monday, Jan. 17, against Dallas, will face Lubbock five times this season. The first meeting between the two teams is slated for Feb. 5 in Birmingham.
As the only professional women's basketball league in the United States during the spring, the NWBL has served as a tuneup for WNBA players as well as a stepping stone for WNBA hopefuls. The NWBL featured 27 WNBA players last year.
