New Jersey native returns home for senior season
By Kadie DiGiuseppe
After three years of Division I basketball at La Salle University in Philadelphia, 5-foot-10-inch senior guard Gabby Turco will finish out her college basketball career in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, as a Rider Bronc.
The Wildwood, New Jersey, native knew that Head Coach Lynn Milligan was interested in her for years before making the decision to play for the team.
Milligan said she feels confident in Turco, knowing that she has already had experience with Division I basketball: “Gabby [Turco has] fit in really well. Gabby is a player that I watched since [she was in] high school, so I’ve followed her career.”
After she graduated from Wildwood Catholic High School as a 1,000-point scorer, Turco enrolled at a Division II school, Saint Anselm College, where she played basketball from 2020 to 2023. After having her freshman season canceled due to COVID-19, Turco was a well-known figure in the Northeast 10 Conference after being awarded NE10 rookie of the year following seven rookie of the week awards.
Turco ranked second in the conference and 10th in the nation in free throw percentages at 82.0% with 73 free throws made. On top of that, Turco made third team all-conference after being ranked fourth in her division in scoring and eighth in assists. She also started in all 28 games her first year as a Hawk, scoring 439 points in that season, which is the second-highest for a first-year student at Saint Anselm in program history.
Long time coming
Milligan explained that she had known Turco for a while, as they are both from South Jersey.
“We thought she was going to come here before La Salle, but that didn’t happen, but we got her back, and so we say, ‘Last one, best one.’ So, we want this to be her best year,” said Milligan.
“Coach Milligan welcomed me back with open arms, and I couldn’t be more thankful to have her as my coach and, even down to the assistant coaches and the directors, they’re all always there for me,” said Turco.
When she entered the transfer portal after her second season with Saint Anselm, Turco admitted that she was between La Salle University and Rider but ended up choosing La Salle. During her time as an Explorer, Turco played in 29 games during her junior year and made eight starts with four double-digit games, including her season high, 17 points against the University of Massachusetts.
“I went back in the portal because I wanted to end my career on a good note,” Turco said. “I told Coach Milligan, everything happens for a reason. There’s a reason I ended up back on this campus. … I hope I can make a name for myself so I can go overseas and continue playing. Also, obviously winning a MAAC championship, like everyone else in the program. To me, being on a new team and building that chemistry and having the winning culture is super important, but I also think, off the court, building that bond is the right beginning.”
Senior season
As a new senior on the team, Turco admitted that she was afraid about coming to a new program. All those worries quickly faded when she met her teammates: “Off the court, I couldn’t even explain how close our team is. It’s so crazy that we’ve only known each other since July, because it really feels like we’ve known each other my whole college career. They feel like sisters to me.”
“I feel like the community at Rider is much more family-oriented, and everybody really wants you to succeed, not just on the court, but also in the classroom and beyond that. They just really care about you,” Turco added.
Milligan says that Turco has already taken those steps in preparation for the upcoming season during practices to be the best player she can be this season. Milligan explained that she is a natural-born leader due to her day-to-day work ethic and attitude.
“South Jersey kids are tough, so she has that toughness about her too. So you know, she’s been around, but I’m glad that she gets to finish here with us. I want this to be her best year. I want this to be everything that she’s been working for,” Milligan said.
