Cintia Johnson will forgo her senior season for the Syracuse women’s basketball team because she is expecting a child in January, an athletic department spokesman confirmed Monday.

Johnson, a 5-foot-4 backup point guard who played in 30 games last year, said in a statement she will graduate in December to ‘focus on my family.’

‘I do, however, plan to pursue a professional basketball career overseas at a later date,’ Johnson said in the statement. ‘My experience at Syracuse was a wonderful one that prepared me for a bright future both personally and professionally. I wish my teammates the best of luck in the future.’

Johnson’s pregnancy is the second one on the women’s basketball team in the past two years. Former forward Fantasia Goodwin, who graduated last May, gave birth to a baby girl, Jordin, in April 2007.

Johnson, a local product of Nottingham High School in Syracuse, started 47 games for SU in her career, including all 29 games in the 2006-07 campaign. She averaged 4.8 points and 3.9 assists that year while playing almost 33 minutes a game.

Last season, then-freshman Tasha Harris took over as the starting point guard, but Johnson provided critical minutes off the bench, averaging 13 minutes a game during Syracuse’s 22-9 season.

Although she lost her starting role, Johnson mentored Harris and then-freshman shooting guard Erica Morrow throughout the season, helping guide the duo to Big East All-Rookie Team accolades.

Johnson was known for her hardnosed type of play, not afraid to dive for loose balls or guard taller opponents. For her career, she shot 36.1 percent from the field while averaging 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 points per game in 85 contests.

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on October 20, 2008 at 12:00 pm