Brian Foley

Pikett Signs Professional Contract to Play in Malta

8/10/2026 3:22:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Connor Griffin, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications | cgriffin@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. — Daemen University women's basketball alumna Claire Pikett '26 (Holland, N.Y.) has signed a professional contract with the Hibernians Basketball Club in Paola, Malta.

The Hibernians play in the First Division of the Malta Basketball Association. The season will begin in October.

"I am feeling a lot of excitement and nerves at the same time. I'm excited because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world while playing the sport I love!" Pikett said. "It's something I could never imagine doing or passing up. Having been in Buffalo my whole life, it will definitely be a change of pace and a change of scenery, but I am excited to see what it brings."

During her career with Daemen, Pikett was a three-time All-ECC selection, earning first-team honors twice and third-team accolades once. She was named the 2025-26 ECC Defensive Player of the Year. Pikett helped the Wildcats win the ECC regular-season and tournament four straight years and make four NCAA Tournament trips, including reaching the Elite Eight (2023-24) and the Sweet 16 (2025-26). She finished seventh in program history in career steals (219) and sixth in career blocks (168).

Pikett had a strong senior campaign in 2025-26, earning ECC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ECC accolades. She led the conference in steals (102) and steals per game (3.4), also ranking tied for 10th nationally in the latter. The forward was second in the ECC in blocks (50) and tied for second in blocks per game (1.7). Additionally, Pikett averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. She recorded five-plus steals in seven contests, including a career-high eight in the season-opener against Wilmington (DE). Pikett helped the Wildcats win their fourth straight ECC Championship, reaching the East Region Final in the NCAA Tournament.

The forward also garnered First Team All-ECC honors as a junior after finishing second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game after shooting 37.5% (119-of-317) from the field and 34.1% (46-of-135) from three. She posted the most blocks in a season in Daemen's Division II era with 52, averaging 1.7 per game, ranking fourth in the ECC.

During her sophomore season, Pikett was named Third Team All-ECC. She averaged 8.4 points per game, shooting 49% from the field and 47% from beyond the arc. Pikett ranked second on the team in blocks (26) and fifth in rebounds (4.0 per game). Starting all 25 games for the Wildcats, Pikett tallied double-digit points in 13 games, including 20 points against Staten Island on Jan. 12. She helped the Wildcats make their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight after the team won the East Region.

Pikett played in all 25 of Daemen's games as a freshman, ranking sixth on the team in total minutes (421) and seventh in minutes per game (16.8). She led the team in blocks (33) and ranked third in steals (25). Pikett shot 43.1% from the field, 29.2% from beyond the arc, and 78.6% from the free throw line while scoring in double digits in four games.

Pikett also excelled in the classroom during her time at Daemen. She graduated this past May with her degree in childhood/special education and was a three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree.

"My time at Daemen has definitely set me up for success in this opportunity. Having won four straight ECC titles, it taught me the work it takes to succeed and win, and I'm excited to raise that level of work even higher for my professional career and continue to win," Pikett said. "My coaches at Daemen taught me so much, and I will continue to take all that wherever I go and apply it to help me succeed. I am very grateful for my time at Daemen. I would not have this opportunity without it!"

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen women's basketball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWBB.

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