UTICA, NY - Pioneer women's basketball standout, and local product, Jessica Berry, will be one of eight members enshrined in the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in the organization's 36th annual banquet on Saturday, September 20.

Jessica Berry '11 stormed onto the Utica basketball scene in 2007 and quickly established herself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. The Rome, NY native used a combination of hard work, dedication and athleticism to leave an indelible mark on the Pioneers' record books while helping usher the program into one of its most successful stretches.
Berry played a major role in lifting the Pioneers to unprecedented success during her four-year career. She helped Utica make four consecutive Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearances, capture two Empire 8 Conference titles, take the program to two NCAA Tournaments, with a second round appearance in 2010, and earn two NCAA Division III Tournament selections. In her four seasons, Berry helped the Pioneers win 73 games.

The 2007-08 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year wrapped up her career as the program's all-time leader in points with 2,111, while also finishing with 1,065 rebounds. She remains Utica's career leader in field goals made (865), field goals attempted (1,669) and games started (108), while also holding multiple single-season program records. During the 2009-10 season, she established single-season records for points (619), field goals made (243), field goals attempted (508), defensive rebounds (244) and minutes played (1,047). She also owns the program's single-season record for minutes per game, averaging 37.8 during the 2010-11 season.

Her accomplishments on the court earned Berry numerous postseason honors. Following her senior campaign, she was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III All-American Team, one of just 10 players selected from a field representing 441 teams. She was also named the 2011 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III Upstate Player of the Year, a D3hoops.com Second Team All-American, D3hoops.com East Region Player of the Year, Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year and Empire 8 All-Conference First Team. She was a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, presented to the NCAA Division III National Player of the Year, and earned the Dick Miller and Kiwanis Student-Athlete Awards.

In her senior season, Berry led the Empire 8 and ranked 10th nationally with 21.6 points per game while also leading the conference and ranking 39th nationally with 10.5 rebounds per game. Her 21.6 points per game remains the second-highest single-season scoring average in program history.

Berry's junior season was another landmark year for the Pioneers, as she helped guide Utica to a program-best 22-7 record and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, which led to her first selection to the D3hoops.com All-American Second Team, as well as her first Empire 8 Player of the Year nod.

Her impact on Utica women's basketball was recognized shortly after the conclusion of her playing career when she was inducted into the Utica University Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2012. 
Now, more than a decade later, Berry's accomplishments and lasting impact on the local sports community are being recognized once again with her induction into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame.