Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

As long as Ashley Cieplicki is the head women's basketball coach at Rutgers-Newark, one player will always own the distinction of being Cieplicki's first-ever recruit.
 
And that player is the one affectionately known to her teammates and practically everyone as simply "Lou."
 
Don't ask Louise Ann Borja how she acquired the nickname. She was not referred to as "Lou" during her days at Hillsborough High School, but she's certainly known that way since her arrival at R-N a little more than two years ago.
 
"One day, someone called me that," Borja said. "And it just stuck. I personally love it."
 
Borja also adores the fact that she is indeed Cieplicki's first-ever recruit.
 
"I take pride in it," Borja said. "I feel there's a certain amount of pressure that comes with it. I do feel a special connection with Coach (Cieplicki) because of it. She's probably the biggest reason why I chose to come to Rutgers-Newark."

Other schools were in pursuit of Borja's services when she was graduating from high school. But Rutgers-Newark, with the then-rookie head coach, won out.
 
"She texted me almost every single day," Borja said of Cieplicki. "She came to a lot of my AAU games to watch me play."
 
"She was just a really good kid overall," Cieplicki said. "She was very mature. I was able to have an adult conversation with her and I liked that. She was the kind of kid we wanted to have. Her energy is contagious."
 
Borja has been a major part of the Scarlet Raiders' success over the last three seasons, doing a little bit of everything along the way.
 
"She works so hard," Cieplicki said. "She wants to win so much. It's probably the reason why I love her so much. She does all the little things you need. Whatever I ask her to do, she'll do it."
 
Borja plays with so much defensive intensity that it is evident in her facial expressions. She's also diving on the floor for loose balls, banging bodies down low with opponents that are much taller and larger, and generally a nuisance to players of all positions.
 
"Her intensity on defense is tremendous," Cieplicki said.
 
"I know my role," Borja said. "It's all about energy and defense. I take pride in that. Offense is not my first priority. I've always been more of a defensive minded player. I try to lock down on the opposition. That's what I do. I feel like defense is my best contribution."
 
Still, Borja also has the ability to knock down the 3-point shot and can put the ball on the floor and drive with authority to the basket.
 
"She has worked so hard on her shot," Cieplicki said. "She really wants to get better as an offensive player."
 
Borja said that even her offense stems from her defensive ability.
 
"It's where it all happens," Borja said. "It all begins with my defense."
 
Borja said that she takes a lot of pride in being a collegiate athlete.
 
"I think it takes a different type of athlete to be able to play at the collegiate level," Borja said. "I think that you need a certain level of pride. I've been playing basketball since I was in fifth grade and I love playing. It gives me a different type of energy being able to play."
 
Borja said that she draws motivation from her parents, Susan and Joe, who attend every single game, home and away, driving from their home in Hillsborough.
 
"They make the commute to every game," Borja said. "That means a lot to me."
 
Borja is carrying a double major in sociology and education. She hopes to become a social studies teacher when her days at R-N are through.
 
"I love being with kids," Borja said. "It's what I always wanted. I always wanted to be a teacher."
 
Borja will begin her student teaching assignment in the fall of 2019. For now, it's all about playing basketball and studying.
 
"It feels so good, because a lot of people underestimated us," Borja said of the 6-5 Scarlet Raiders. "Right now, we're proving everyone's predictions wrong."
 
And then there's the title of being the program's first-ever recruit under the new coach.
 
"When we got her, that was the first sign that we knew we could do something special here," Cieplicki said. "Overall, we knew what we were getting when we got Lou."
 
That's who she is with the Scarlet Raiders. She's just "Sweet Lou."