Central Islip, N.Y. - Queens College sophomore
guard Madison Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y.) has been named the 2014-15 ECC
Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, in a vote by the
conference's coaches. Senior forward Denikka Brent (Chesapeake,
Va.) of University of the District of Columbia has earned the
Defensive Player of the Year honor. St. Thomas Aquinas freshman
guard Jenna Erickson (Melrose, N.Y.) wraps up the conference's
major honors, taking home the Rookie of the Year award.
Rowland showcased an outstanding all-around game, ranking in the
top-five in the ECC in numerous categories, to help lead the
Knights to a 20 win season. Rowland is currently the second leading
scorer in the league, averaging 20.5 points per game after scoring
in double-figures in all but two games on the season. In addition,
the five-time ECC Player of the Week ranks fourth in the conference
in both field goal percentage (49.0) and rebounds per game (9.8),
third with 4.2 assists per game, and tops the league with 4.5
steals per game. Rowland also finds her name among the Division II
leader board, as her scoring average is 13th and her steals
per game mark is tops in the nation. For the second straight year,
Rowland is also one of only 13 players in Division II to compile a
triple-double on the season, a feat she accomplished with 20
points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists against UDC on January
10th.
Brent has earned the conference's top defensive honor after
showcasing her versatility as a defender by ranking among the ECC
leaders in multiple defensive categories. Currently, she ranks
ninth with 7.7 rebounds per game, 10th with 1.5 blocks per game,
and second in the ECC and in the top-25 in Division II with 2.64
steals per game.
Erickson was the leading scorer for the Spartans during her rookie
campaign, pouring in 13.6 points per game. Her scoring total was
good for second among all first-year players. During conference
play, Erickson was even better, upping her average to an ECC-rookie
best 14.8 points per game. A sharpshooter who rank third in the ECC
with 62 made three-pointers, Erickson also excelled as a
distributor, ranking fifth in the loop with 101 assists.
Lester Butler, Jr. from University of the District of Columbia has
been tabbed Coach of the Year by his peers. The Firebirds won
a school-record 25 games and currently are ranked No. 23 in the USA
Today Sports Division II Top 25 poll under his guidance. Butler
also guided UDC to an 18-2 mark in conference play to earn the
program's first-ever ECC Regular Season Championship and the top
seed in the upcoming ECC Women's Basketball Championship.
The ECC also announces the Women's Basketball All-Conference
teams. District of Columbia and Queens lead the way with
three selections each, while LIU Post, NYIT, Queens, and Roberts
Wesleyan all had two. First Team members include: Rowland, Brent,
Nyasia Davis (Jr., C/F, LIU Post), Dina Ragab (Jr., F, NYIT),
Marissa Sell (Sr., F, Roberts Wesleyan) and Chelsea Williams (Sr.,
G, LIU Post).
The ECC All-Conference Second Team members are: Shanice Allen (So.,
G, NYIT), Tanayzha Augustine (Sr., F, Mercy), MacKenzie Rowland
(Jr., C, Queens), Telisha Turner (Sr., G, Dist. Columbia), and
Christine Verrelle (Sr., G, Dowling).
Joining Erickson on the ECC Honorable Mention Team are
Taj Baldwin-Kollore (Jr., G, Dist. Columbia), Shy Britton (Sr., F,
Daemen), Samantha Courtney (Jr., F, Roberts Wesleyan), and Kristen
Korevisnki (Jr., G, Queens).
2014-2015 ECC
Women’s Basketball All-Conference
First Team
Denikka Brent, Dist. Columbia (Sr., F, Chesapeake, Va.)
Nyasia Davis, LIU Post (Jr., C/F, Rahway, N.J.)
Dina Ragab, NYIT (Jr., F, Cairo, Egypt)
Madison Rowland, Queens (So., G, Cohoes, N.Y.)
Marissa Sell, Roberts Wesleyan (Sr., F, Brockport, N.Y.)
Chelsea Williams, LIU Post (Sr., G, Copiague, N.Y.)
Second Team
Shanice Allen, NYIT (So., G, Riverhead, N.Y.)
Tanayzha Augustine, Mercy (Sr., F, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
MacKenzie Rowland, Queens (Jr., C, Cohoes, N.Y.)
Telisha Turner, Dist. Columbia (Sr., G, Wilmington, Del.)
Christine Verrelle, Dowling (Sr., G, Abington, Pa.)
Honorable Mention Team
Taj Baldwin-Kollore, Dist. Columbia (Jr., G, Newport News, Va.)
Shy Britton, Daemen (Sr., F, Rochester, N.Y.)
Samantha Courtney, Roberts Wesleyan (Jr., F, Marathon, N.Y.)
Jenna Erickson, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fr., G, Melrose, N.Y.)
Kristen Korzevinski, Queens (New Hyde Park, N.Y.)
Player of the Year: Madison Rowland, Queens
Defensive Player of the Year: Denikka Brent, Dist.
Columbia
Rookie of the Year: Jenna Erickson, St. Thomas
Aquinas
Coach of the Year: Lester Butler, Jr., Dist.
Columbia
