DePeano Cascio, Gena

When Gena (DePeano) Cascio was considering her college destination, she heeded the advice of her dad who said to find a place where she would be able to play almost immediately, and reasonably close to her home. NCAA Division II Southern Connecticut State College (now a university) in New Haven fit both of those needs.

DePeano learned and was influenced by the game from her dad, Louis, who according to DePeano “was a yeller. So was Tony Barone (Southern’s head coach 1979-to 1998). But I liked that. It fired me up. When I was in high school, I used to do a shuffle pass to the center. In college, that pass would lead to some turnovers.”

What happened next? “I remember Tony vividly saying to me, ‘Leave that pass in high school.’” So DePeano obliged. “I really enjoyed playing in the Southern program and on those teams, ” she said. “There was absolutely no jealousy. Everyone just wanted to win and would do whatever it took to make that happen.”

Among her many individual and team highlights came when she scored a game-winning shot with seconds remaining against Rhode Island. As an incoming freshman, DePeano was the first player off the bench before earning a starting berth as the Owls became one of the best teams in New England and recorded 1,257 career points, 12th on the all-time career list. Incidentally, the 3-point rule hadn’t taken effect yet during her scholastic or collegiate career.

DePeano was a starter on the 1983 Southern Connecticut team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Laurie Roche of Guilford and a 2003 CT Women’s Hall of Fame recipient, was also a key member of the team. An MVP selection in the New England Regional finals, DePeano helped the Owls to a 63-60 win over Caniscus College in the regional championship. Southern would advance to the final four, dropping a close decision to perennial national contender Cal Poly-Pomona, 60-56. Virginia Union topped Cal Poly-Pomona, 73-60, in the title game.

“ I saw Gena play four times at Southern, ” said legendary Masuk coach Dave Strong. “She was pretty much the same player as she was in high school but adapting to increased competition. Her strengths were her adaptability to do what was necessary to succeed in whatever situation she was in. “Gena was a great shooter, a very good passer, especially if she was double teamed, ” added Strong. “A talented, if not gifted ball handler, she was an above average, and smart in how she defended. She was a great teammate. She was able to do whatever was necessary at the time in a game.”

A 2025 Masuk High Hall of Fame recipient, she was also an all-league runner in cross country and all-league pick on the tennis court. An all-state selection, DePeano was the second girl to score over 1,000 points at Masuk. As a team captain of the 1980 team, she helped the Panthers the Class M state finals, where they dropped an overtime decision to Stonington, 61-56 at Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven.

“Her freshman year I was starting four seniors, ” recalled Strong. “Gena’s playing time was limited, but she performed admirably whenever she was on the court and started as a sophomore. In 1980 she was our leading scorer and most plays were set up for her to get an open shot but we had several other good options. "Our only loss during the season was to Wilbur Cross of New Haven with Tracy Claxton (A future star at Old Dominion University and Final Four MVP in 1985) by nine points, their closest game of the year, " said Strong. "Gena had a mental toughness that helped her achieve excellence. One of her biggest strengths was her adaptability to do whatever the team needed to win. Usually points, but not always.”

DePeano credited Strong for being a huge influence on her in the classroom and on the court. “Dave was always very calm and never raised his voice, ” noted DePeano. “If we made a mistake, he would always say, ‘We’ll get it next time.’”

In high school or college, DePeano said she just just loved the competition, not the individual glory. “I was not one who would play for trophies, I just loved the game, ” she said. “I was a quiet, reserved type of player. I was not a rah, rah type of team captain. I was focused and played hard and found a way to get my team fired up that way.”

Gena and husband Gary have two sons, Danny and Billy, her presenter. DePeano works in the Assisted Living industry for a company based in Shelton.