Courtesy of Mark Mentone, Felician SID

RUTHERFORD, N.J. - First-year head coach Steve Fagan and members of the Felician College women's basketball team donned Halloween costumes and participated in the Borough of Rutherford's annual Ragamuffin Parade on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Due to inclement weather, the event was moved indoors into the Rutherford High School auditorium. But the spirit of the day remained, as the Felician student-athletes paraded around the high school, in costume, with young townsfolk ranging from infants to third-graders.

"It was fun to get a little break and just be crazy for a day," said sophomore Shannon Gilmartin of Port Monmouth. "We got to be little kids ourselves."

When the group reassembled in the auditorium, the Golden Falcon players served as masters of ceremonies and judges for a costume contest, and helped the event organizers hand out prizes and candy bags.

 "It was a very fulfilling day," said junior co-captain Janelle Biamonte of Secaucus. "As students at a Franciscan college, it's important for us to be active in our community and live those values. It was also fun to enjoy my teammates' company away from basketball."

While Felician's main campus is in the Borough of Lodi, its athletics offices and dormitories are housed in Rutherford, just a half-mile from Rutherford High.