FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Growing up in her household, Casey Foley heard the word 'basketball' quite a few times. The sport was basically a family tradition. Her brother Tommy and sister Kristen both played the sport at Ardsley High School. Her aunts also grew up with the love of the game (one played collegiately at Catholic University). And her father, Tom, also was a Division I basketball athlete, coincidentally at one of Fairfield's MAAC Rivals: Iona College.

“Sports are big in my family,” Foley said. “Basketball was one that I really liked so I just stuck with it.”

Although she will be entering her first year of college, a big transition for any collegiate athlete, Foley will be playing in a conference that her family is quite familiar with. Her father, Tom, appeared in 44 career games for Iona, during the first-ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) season in 1981-82. During his collegiate career, the Gaels appeared in both the NIT and the NCAA Tournament, losing to Virginia by a single point in 1984. Despite the fact that his daughter will now be competing against his alma mater, Foley says that her father was excited about the chance for her to play at Fairfield.

“He was actually real excited and wanted me to go here,” Foley said. “He was the person pushing me the most. He thinks it's a great place and is real excited that someone is going here.”

Casey grew up with the family's passion for basketball and found unparalleled success at Ardsley High School, where she was a shooting star. She was named the Class B Player of the Year, and poured in a team-high 22 points to bring the Panthers into the Class B finals. She says that the basketball lessons she has learned from her family, especially her dad has helped improve her game.

“I was taught to always work hard and stay focused,” Foley said. “Never lose your mind in the game.”

Foley will begin her first season for the Stags this upcoming season. Regarded as one of the area's top point guards, and an athlete who understands the importance of defense, Foley will fit well into Head Coach Joe Frager's system.

And her family will love to watch her play basketball.