MAC Announces Women's Basketball Post Season Award Winners
CLEVELAND, OHIO - The Mid-American Conference announced today the 2010-11 MAC Women's Basketball post season awards. Highlighting the awards were the MAC Coach, Player and Freshman of the Year.
Buffalo senior Kourtney Brown became the first player in school history to be named MAC Player of the Year and just the second player in conference history to win both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. Brown currently leads the conference and is in the top 10 in the nation in scoring (22.1), rebounding (11.7), field goal percentage (.595) and blocks (3.3). She is also just one of two players in the nation to average over 22.0 points and 11.0 rebounds this season. Brown has been named MAC East Player of the Week a conference-high five times this season and became the league's all-time leading shot blocker, breaking a record that has stood for 22 years. Her 663 points on the year are seventh in MAC history and her 352 rebounds are currently third most ever in the MAC. Her 99 blocks on the season are second most in conference history as well.
Claiming MAC Freshman of the Year was Central Michigan's Niki DiGuilino. DiGuilino broke the Chippewas's three-pointers made record this season with 61. A she rank 32nd in the nation in three-point percentage with 39.9 and has scored in double-figures 15 times, with five games having 20-plus points. DiGuilino is the third Chippewa in school history to be named Freshman of the Year.
Toledo Rocket's head coach Tricia Cullop was named MAC Coach of the Year for the second time in her three year career with the Rockets. Cullop guided the Midnight Blue & Gold to their first MAC regular-season championship since 2003 and first outright crown since 2001 this season. The Rockets' 14-2 conference slate ties the second-best mark in school history since the MAC went to the 16-game league slate beginning in the 1998-99 season.
Jasmine Mushington of Akron and Taylor Johnson of Central Michigan were named Co-Sixth Player of the Year. This is the first season since the award began in 2003 that a player from Central Michigan has won and the second consecutive season that a player from Akron has revived this award. Mushington has been Akron's go-to player off the bench, averaging 7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, and 19.0 mpg while hitting 47.1 percent of her shots from the floor. She is second on the team with 35 steals and 50 assists and has scored in double figures in seven contests this season, five of which came in conference action. Overall, she shoots 71.7 percent from the free throw line and 78.6 percent in league play. Johnson is the only reserve in MAC to average double-figures in scoring this season with 10.3 ppg. She is also leading freshman rebounds 6.4 rpg. Johnson has scored in double-figures 16 times and scored over 20 once this season.
Joining Brown with First Team All-MAC honors were Rachel Tecca of Akron, Lauren Prochaska of Bowling Green, Tavelyn James of Eastern Michigan and Naama Shafir of Toledo. Prochaska received first team honors for the third time in her career while Brown and James received the honor for the second consecutive season.
Being named to the Second Team All-MAC were Kaihla Szunko of Central Michigan, Cassie Schrock of Eastern Michigan, Taisja Jones and Jamilah Humes of Kent State and Marke Freeman of Northern Illinois.
Claiming Third Team All-MAC honors are Emily Maggert of Ball State, Tracy Pontius of Bowling Green, Shonda Long of Central Michigan, Courtney Osborn of Miami and Melissa Goodall of Toledo.
Rounding out All-MAC Honorable Mention are Kara Murphy of Akron, Brandie Baker of Central Michigan, Kirsten Olowinski of Miami, Tenishia Benson of Ohio and Ebony Cleary of Western Michigan.
Headlining the All-Freshman team are DiGuilio and Johnson along with Carly Young of Akron, Shavon Robinson of Ohio and Andola Dortch of Toledo.
The 2011 MAC Women's Basketball Tournament continues Wednesday, March 9 as the team's head to Cleveland for the Quarterfinals. Games get underway at 12:00 p.m.
First Team
Rachel Tecca, Akron, Center
Lauren Prochaska, Bowling Green, Guard
Kourtney Brown, Buffalo, Post
Tavelyn James, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Naama Shafir, Toledo, Guard
Second Team
Kaihla Szunko, Central Michigan, Forward
Cassie Schrock, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Taisja Jones, Kent State, Forward
Jamilah Humes, Kent State, Guard
Marke Freeman, Northern Illinois, Guard
Third Team
Emily Maggert, Ball State, Center
Tracy Pontius, Bowling Green, Point Guard
Shonda Long, Central Michigan, Guard
Courtney Osborn, Miami, Point Guard
Melissa Goodall, Toledo, Forward
Honorable Mention
Kara Murphy, Akron, Guard
Brandie Baker, Central Michigan, Guard
Kirsten Olowinski, Miami, Forward
Tenishia Benson, Ohio, Guard
Ebony Cleary, Western Michigan, Post
All-Freshman
Carly Young, Akron, Forward
Niki DiGuilio, Central Michigan, Guard
Taylor Johnson, Central Michigan, Forward
Shavon Robinson, Ohio, Guard
Andola Dortch, Toledo, Guard
Co-Sixth Players of the Year
Jasmine Mushington, Akron
Taylor Johnson, Central Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year
Kourtney Brown, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year
Niki DiGuilio, Central Michigan
Player of the Year
Kourtney Brown, Buffalo
Coach of the Year
Tricia Cullop, Toledo
