AMHERST, N.Y. - For the first time since 2014, the Daemen University Athletics Hall of Fame has grown in numbers. On Saturday, February 25, The university's Division of Athletics hosted an induction ceremony on campus to enshrine former student-athletes Gerald Beverly (men's basketball), Mackenzie Donahue (women's cross country/track and field), Samantha Engel (women's soccer) and Dr. Gabriel Marshall (men's basketball). The four inductees were introduced during a luncheon in the John R. Yurtchuk Student Center and were further recognized during the men's and women's basketball doubleheader that evening at Lumsden Gymnasium.

The induction marked the conclusion of a nearly three-year process to relaunch the Daemen Athletics Hall of Fame. The process included updating the criteria for nominations and consideration as well as the establishment of a formal Hall of Fame committee comprised of current staff and administrators, the president of Daemen's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, two past Hall of Fame inductees as well as a corporate partner. A new, state-of-the-art Hall of Fame display complete with an interactive touchscreen database of inductees was also unveiled inside the Lumsden Gymnasium lobby several months ago.

Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) put together a stellar four-year career on the hardwood, competing for the Wildcats from 2011-15 - a time frame that spanned the end of Daemen's long tenure in the NAIA and into its NCAA Division II era. Appearing in 120 games, including 94 as a starter, Beverly amassed 1,799 points (sixth all-time), 1,004 rebounds (third all-time) and 330 blocks (first all-time). He is one of only three players in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. A two-time First Team All-East Coast Conference selection, Beverly was also twice named the ECC Defensive Player of the Year and the Daemen Male Athlete of the Year. His best season came as a senior, when he led the Wildcats to a 21-10 record en route to winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I national championship. Beverly was named the USCAA Division I Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the USCAA National Championships. The Wildcats posted an 89-34 overall record during Beverly's career - tied for the most wins of any four-year stretch in program history.

Donahue (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) is arguably the greatest runner in Daemen history. In a career that spanned 2013-17, Donahue etched her name all over the Daemen record books for cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. In 25 career cross country meets, she achieved 19 top-10 finishes and set program records for the 5K (17:44.31) and 6K (21:42.46) - benchmarks that still stand today. On the track, she set 12 program records as she dominated nearly every distance she competed in. Over the course of her career, Donahue racked up an impressive 12 all-conference and seven all-region honors. She also earned team MVP honors on five occasions - four times for cross country, once for track and field - and is an unprecedented three-time recipient of Daemen's Female Athlete of the Year award. She also led the women's cross country team to the 2013 USCAA national championship. Donahue will become just the second cross country athlete inducted into the Daemen Athletics Hall of Fame, joining 2004 graduate Michelle Bloom.

Engel (Dryden, N.Y./Dryden) starred on the pitch from 2010-13, appearing in 76 games, including 72 as a starter. In that time, she totaled 36 goals (third all-time), 33 assists (first all-time) and 105 points (third all-time). She is one of only three players in program history to reach 100 career points. Engel also ranks among the program's single season leaders for goals (15 in 2011 - tied for fourth all-time), assists (14 in 2010 - tied for second all-time) and points (37 in 2011 - tied for fourth all-time). Her 37-point campaign in 2011 helped the Wildcats win their first American Mideast Conference regular season championship. Engel went on to lead the Wildcats to back-to-back appearances in the USCAA national championship game, winning the title in 2012. Daemen won at least 10 games in all four of Engel's seasons, going 47-29-1 to mark the most wins for any four-year span in program history. Engel becomes just the second women's soccer player to be inducted into the Daemen Athletics Hall of Fame, joining 2007 graduate Kim Walker.

Marshall (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit) is the elder statesman of this year's induction class. After beginning his career at Mercer County Community College (N.J.), he made an immediate impact and put together two standout seasons at Daemen, playing from 2002-04 when the team won 45 games. He appeared in 66 of a possible 67 games (60 as a starter) and averaged 13.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting better than 45% from the field and 39% from three-point range. As a senior, he averaged a team-high 15.1 points per game and was named to the All-AMC North Division Second Team. That season, Marshall led Daemen to 24 wins (then a program record) and a run to the NAIA National Championships Elite Eight. To be enshrined now as an individual, Marshall was previously inducted with the entire 2003-04 men's basketball team - the only team to be so honored in Daemen history.