Flushing, N.Y. – Former Queens College women's basketball stars Madison and MacKenzie Rowland have both signed to play professionally together with CAB Madeira in Portugal for the upcoming season.
Located on the island of Madeira, CAB Madeira plays in the premier Portuguese women's league, Liga Feminina.
"It's an exciting and surprising opportunity," said Madison. "I thought Queens would be the last time I got to play with MacKenzie, so to be able to go into our professional careers together is very exciting. I'm very blessed and grateful to CAB Madeira for giving me this amazing opportunity, and I am really looking forward to this next chapter in my life and my career."
This comes just months after the duo guided the Knights to their best season since joining NCAA Division II. Both Madison and MacKenzie concluded their careers as two of the top players in program history, etching their names all over the record books.
"Basketball has given me so many great opportunities," stated MacKenzie. "It's a dream come true. I never would have thought that I would play professional basketball, and with my sister at that."
Madison finished as the career leader in points (2,375) and steals (507) for both Queens and the East Coast Conference (ECC). She also became the only women's player in NCAA history to officially record career totals of 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 steals, 400 assists and 100 blocks. The three-time All-American and two-time ECC Player of the Year was named Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Ron Lenz National Player of the Year this past season after averaging 21.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 4.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. The 2017 D2CCA East Region Player of the Year and two-time All-Met Player of the Year led DII in steals in each of her four seasons. She set the program's single season records for points (697) and steals (151) this past season, and is second in career assists (403) and fourth in career rebounds (1,071).
MacKenzie was the NCAA DII statistical champion in double-doubles this past season, doubling up an impressive 23 times. She wrapped up her career as the program's all-time leader in blocks with 249, while finishing second in program history in rebounds (1,181) and fourth in both points (1,744) and assists (304). This past season, MacKenzie notched D2CCA All-Region honors and was named ECC Defensive Player of the Year after posting 17.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. A three-time All-ECC and All-Met honoree, she finished among the top five on the program's single season lists for points (565) and rebounds (361), while holding four of the top seven marks for single season blocks.
Over the past four seasons with the dynamic duo on the team, Queens posted an overall record of 90-30 for a .750 winning percentage. During that time, the Knights made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, won two ECC Championships and captured one ECC Regular Season Championship. This past season, Madison and MacKenzie led Queens to its first NCAA DII East Regional title and Elite Eight appearance with a program-record 27 wins.
Provided by the Queens Sports Information Department.
