Dec. 14, 2009

DID YOU KNOW? On April 19, 2002, North Carolina Central University center Amba Kongolo became the first women's basketball student-athlete in school and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) history to be drafted into the WNBA when the Phoenix Mercury selected her with the 56th pick.

Kongolo is the only Lady Eagle to be crowned CIAA Player of the Year, earning the award in 2001 and 2002 after leading the conference in scoring and blocked shots both seasons. As a senior, she averaged 21.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest, charging NCCU to the NCAA Championship "Sweet 16" for the first time in school history.

Among the school's all-time career leaders, Kongolo ranks third in scoring with 1,536 points, fourth in rebounds with 833 caroms, and second in blocked shots with 225 rejections.

A native of Kinshasa, Congo, Kongolo represented her country (then known as Zaire) by playing basketball in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She is from the same African tribe as NBA standout Dikembe Mutombo.

As part of North Carolina Central University's Centennial celebration, the NCCU Department of Athletics will post sports history facts from the institution's first 100 years to its official web site, www.NCCUEaglePride.com, every week during the year-long observance.

Amba Kongolo's Complete NCCU Bio in PDF Format