Bio

Coach Deanna Purcell was named the Head Coach for Women's Basketball following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. The 2015 Rivier graduate is the All-Time Program leader holding many records that have yet to be broken.

Coach Purcell is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,192 points in 106 games played. She averaged 20.6 points per game in the Raider blue and white while shooting 50.1% from the floor in her career. She was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team in all four years of eligibility and was also selected the conference’s Rookie of the Year (2012) and Player of the Year (2015). She holds the GNAC and program rookie record for points scored in a season (582 in 2011-12) and her teams held an overall record of 64-42 with a 35-12 mark against the conference. She led her teams to the GNAC Tournament all four seasons with two appearances in the GNAC Semifinals and two appearances in the ECAC Tournament.

Coach Purcell also garnered honors from the New Hampshire Division III Coaches Association as she was tabbed to the All-State first team three times and second team once. Coach Purcell was also selected as the All-State Player of the Year (2014) and Freshman of the Year (2012) along with being selected to the 2015 D3Hoops.com All-Northeast Fourth team.

Coach Purcell earned her undergraduate degree in History from Rivier in 2015 and also earned her masters degree in Special Education from Rivier in 2019. She is currently living in Hudson, New Hampshire. 

Career Highlights:

Senior Season (2014-15); GNAC WBB Player of the Year, GNAC First Team selection, D3Hoops.com Fourth Team selection, NH D3 Coaches First Team selection, finished with 2,192 career points (only student-athlete in Raider Basketball history to reach 2,000 points). 

Junior Season (2013-14); GNAC First Team selection, NH D3 Coaches WBB Player of the Year, NH D3 Coaches First Team selection

Sophomore Season (2012-13); GNAC First Team selection, NH D3 Coaches First Team selection, fastest student-athlete to reach 1,000 career points in GNAC history

Freshman Season (2011-12); GNAC Rookie of the Year, GNAC First Team selection, NH D3 Coaches Freshman of the Year, NH D3 Coaches Second Team selection