Claudia DeFaria is one of the most distinguished players to ever wear the Rhode Island College women’s basketball uniform. In just two seasons with the team, DeFaria climbed her way into the school record books by scoring 1,048 points (11th) and recording 592 rebounds (seventh). She remains the only player in program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone in just two seasons.
In her senior season DeFaria averaged 19.2 points per game and 11.2 rebounds per game en route to being named the Little East Player of the Year, First Team All-LEC, to the LEC All-Tournament team and a New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) Second Team All-Star. She was also named a Distinguished Student-Athlete by the Rhode Island Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (RIAIAW).
After playing, DeFaria returned to the Community College of Rhode Island as part of the coaching staff. During her tenure, CCRI reached the NJCAA Final Four twice, and the Elite Eight four times while capturing five consecutive New England and Northeast District Championships. After her stint at CCRI, DeFaria joined the RIC coaching staff as the associate head coach. She helped lead the Anchorwomen to the 2012 LEC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Since her playing days ended, DeFaria has been recognized by numerous organizations for her contributions.
An inductee of the CCRI Hall of Fame in 1999, she was also recognized as Alumni of the Year in 2008. Rhode Island College also inducted her into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and to the college’s 75th Anniversary Women’s Basketball Team in 2005 . DeFaria was selected to the Little East Conference Women’s Basketball 25th Anniversary Team in 2011.