Liberty League announces 2017-18 Women's Basketball Awards
The Liberty League has announced its 2017-18 All-League awards and teams for women’s basketball as voted by the league’s head coaches.
CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kelly Donnelly, Sr., Guard, Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior Kelly Donnelly was selected as the Liberty League Co-Player of the Year. Donnelly and the Thoroughbreds captured their second Liberty League title in four years as she paced the Liberty League in scoring for the third consecutive season, averaging 19.4 points per game. Donnelly was also tops in rebounding, tying for second among league leaders with 9.1 per game. She was recognized as Performer of the Week five times this season while recording 12 double-doubles on the year. Nationally, she is ranked 5th in field goals per game (219) and 33rd in points per game. For her career, she has scored over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds at Skidmore, becoming the first player in program history to do so.
CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cassidy O’Malley, So., Forward, Ithaca College
Ithaca College sophomore Cassidy O’Malley earned Liberty League Co-Player of the Year honors following the 2017-18 season. O’Malley and the Bombers earned the third seed in the Liberty League tournament, advanced to the Liberty League Women’s Basketball semifinals and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The sophomore transitioned from her role as a bench player during her rookie campaign to the team’s leading scorer with 17.7 points per game this season. She also led Ithaca in blocks with 60. O’Malley ranks among the league’s top-five in scoring (third), field goal percentage (.484, first) and free throw percentage (.787, fourth) and blocks (2.2 per game, second).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Julie Yacovoni, Sr., Forward, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior Julie Yacovoni was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. She is one of the Bombers’ top defenders with a team and league-high 63 steals, good for 2.4 per game. She was also among league leaders in blocks with 42 on the season for an average of 1.6. Of her team-high 215 rebounds this season, more than half (132, 61.3%) were defensive. Yacovoni was also a key contributor to Ithaca’s offense as she led the team in rebounds (8.0 per game) and tied for second in scoring (10.8 points per game).
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Katie Frederick, Fr., Forward, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University first-year Katie Frederick was recognized as Liberty League Rookie of the Year. In her rookie season with the Saints, she led the team in scoring and rebounding with 266 points and 257 rebounds. She averaged 10.8 points per game and boasted a league-high 9.9 rebounds per game. She had eight double-doubles this season and was named Rookie of the Week five times. Frederick helped the Saints to the Liberty League tournament for the ninth time in ten years and they finished the season at 17-9 overall, 12-6 in league play.
CO-COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: RIT, Amy Reed, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Ralph Damerell & Mike Maiorano; Volunteer Assistant Coach Taylor Burns
CO-COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Skidmore, Darren Bennett, Head Coach; Assistant Coach Elyse Schlump
The Rochester Institute of Technology and Skidmore College coaching staffs were both selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year as voted upon by the league’s head coaches.
RIT head coach Amy Reed along with assistant coaches Ralph Damerell, Mike Mairorano and Taylor Burns guided the Tigers to a 21-6 overall record and a 14-4 mark in the Liberty League. The 21 wins is a program record, replacing the 20 win mark from a year ago. RIT advanced to the Liberty League championship game for the third straight season and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Tigers will be moving on to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. RIT led the league in scoring with 70.7 points per game and a league-best scoring margin of 14.2. The team was also the league leader in field-goal percentage (0.434), three-point field goal percentage (0.327) and free throw percentage (0.734).
Skidmore head coach Darren Bennett and assistant coach Elyse Schlump directed the Thoroughbreds to their second Liberty League title in four years with an overall record of 18-9 and a 14-4 record against league opponents. In league play, Skidmore boasted one of the best defenses, holding opponents to 53.8 points per game, good for second in the league. With the championship title the Thoroughbreds earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and it will be their second appearance in program history. They head into the tournament riding a hot streak, having won 12 of their last 13 games.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
Kelly Donnelly, Sr., G, Skidmore
Mia Morrison, Jr., F, William Smith
Sophie Nick, So., F, Vassar
Cori Okada, Jr., G, RIT
Cassidy O’Malley, So., F, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
Katie Frederick, Fr., F, St. Lawrence
Jessica Glaz, Sr., G, RIT
Veronica Moceri, Sr., G, Skidmore
Ariella Rosenthal, Sr., G, Vassar
Devin Sorell, Sr., G, Clarkson
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
Jenni Barra, Sr., G, Union
Elizabeth Eckhardt, Jr., G, RPI
Sam Krumbhaar, Jr., G, RPI
Tara Lynch, Jr., F, RIT
Julie Yacovoni, Sr., F, Ithaca
LIBERTY LEAGUE ALL-ROOKIE TEAM:
Grace Cannon, G, Ithaca
Stavriana Dimitrakopoulou, G, William Smith
Katie Frederick, F, St. Lawrence
Juliana Gamboa, G, William Smith
Sabrina Wolfe, F, RIT