University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutewomen Basketball Adds Transfer Zullo From N.C. State
July 16, 2008 | Women's Basketball
July 16, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - Head coach Marnie Dacko has announced that Megan Zullo is transferring to UMass from North Carolina State to play basketball for the Minutewomen. A 5-8 point guard from Greenville, N.C., Zullo started in 21 games for the Wolfpack last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 assists in 22.6 minutes per game. She made 43 3-pointers and shot at a .352 clip from behind the arc. Zullo, who per NCAA rules will be eligible to play in the 2009-10 season, is the niece of former UMass player Christel Zullo, a guard who starred for the Minutewomen from 1985-1989 and scored 784 points in her career.
"Megan will be a fantastic addition to our backcourt," said Dacko. "Coming out of high school at Farmville Central, Megan was a prolific scorer with over 2,300 points in her high school career and also averaged eight assists per game. A guard that can both shoot the ball and share the ball is a valuable player to have. Playing ACC basketball for the past two years allowed Megan to compete against some of the top players in the nation. With nine players on our roster considered underclassmen, there is no question that Megan's level of experience will be an asset to our young UMass squad."
Just seven games into her freshman season at N.C. State, Zullo's 2006-07 campaign was cut short by a stress fracture in her right leg. After being awarded a medical red-shirt, she entered 2007-08 as a red-shirt freshman and played in 27 of the Wolfpack's 34 games, starting in 21 of them. She was fifth on the team in minutes per game, second in 3-point shooting, and led the club with an impressive 1.5 assist to turnover ratio.
Prior to college, Zullo had a tremendous career at Farmville High School where she finished with 2,326 points, 661 rebounds, 506 steals, and 591 assists for averages of 21 points, six rebounds, five steals, and five assists per game. Averaging 21 points and eight assists per game as a senior, she led her team to the North Carolina Class AA State Championship where she was named tournament MVP. The Jaguars posted a 102-14 record in her career and she was named AP All-State three times, including a runner-up finish for the title of Miss Basketball in the state in 2003.
Zullo also starred in track at Farmville, specializing in middle distance events and was an All-Conference selection. She led her 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams to conference titles and her 4x400 team finished second at the state championships.
Megan continues the Zullo legacy at UMass in the footsteps of her aunt, Christel. Sadly, Christel lost her life to cancer in February 2007. Last season UMass coaches, along with alumnae, created the Christel Zullo Spirit Award to be given each year to the Minutewoman that best exemplifies the energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to the team that Christel was known for. Alisha Tatham was named the award's inaugural winner at the team banquet in April.
Megan's twin sister, Kim, played basketball last season at Peace College in North Carolina.
The 2008-09 Minutewomen will be a new-look bunch as Coach Dacko welcomes a talented freshmen class to offset the losses to graduation of Whitney McDonald, Kate Mills, Pam Rosanio, and Tatham. They return an experienced group of guards in Kim Benton, Stefanie Gerardot, and Sakera Young that will surely benefit from having Zullo at practice, as well as some young players that made major strides last season in Stephanie Lawrence, Cerie Mosgrove, and Teya Wright.