PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mia Morrison, Senior, Forward, William Smith College
William Smith College senior Mia Morrison was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year. Morrison and the Herons earned the fourth seed in the league tournament, advancing to the league semifinals. They finished the year at 17-9 overall and 12-6 in league play. Morrison led William Smith and was second among league leaders in scoring and rebounding. In 26 games, she averaged 18.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. She had more than 10 points in 24 of 26 games this season, including a career-high 36 against Vassar. Morrison also had 11 double-doubles on the year and more than 10 rebounds 12 times. She finishes the year ranked among William Smith’s top-ten in season totals for points (6th, 489) and rebounds (3rd, 251). Morrison also closes out her career as a Heron second on the all-time scoring list with 1,584 points in 98 games.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maddie Leong, Senior, Guard, Vassar College
Vassar College senior Maddie Leong was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Leong is part of a defense that holds opponents to 58.5 points per game. The Brewers are 21-6 overall (14-4 Liberty League) and were the third seed in this year’s Liberty League Championship, where they reached the semifinals. They are headed to the NCAA Tournament after receiving an at-large bid. Leong has played in all 27 games for Vassar this season and she paces the squad in assists with 69. She is eighth among league leaders in assists per game with 2.6. She was second on the team in defensive rebounds (106) and total rebounds (139). Leong also contributes to the Brewer offense with 66 points (2.4 per game) so far this season.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Christina Kiser, Guard, Bard College
A recipient of nine Rookie of the Week honors this season, it comes as no surprise that Christina Kiser has been recognized as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Kiser finished her rookie campaign atop the league scoring leaders list and fourth in Division III with 554 total points and 24.1 points per game. She scored more than 30 points on seven different occasions, including a season-high 38 in a non-conference game against SUNY Canton. She also paced the league in steals (73, 3.2 per game) and was among the top-ten in free-throw percentage (4th, .817), field goal percentage (7th, .422) and three-pointers per game (8th, 1.7).
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Vassar College, Candice Signor-Brown – Head Coach, Assistant Coach Claire Mattox
The Vassar College coaching staff was selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the league’s head coaches. Head Coach Candice Signor-Brown and assistant coach Claire Mattox guided the Brewers to a 21-6 overall record and a 14-4 mark against league opponents. The Brewers had a 15-game win streak this season that lasted just over two months (December 1st through February 2nd). Vassar received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and it will be the fourth appearance in program history for the Brewers. As a team, Vassar is third among league leaders in scoring, averaging 68.4 points per game. They boast a league-best field goal percentage of 43.8 and three-pointer field goal percentage of 34.5.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
Annie Giannone, Sr., F, Ithaca
Mia Morrison, Sr., F, William Smith
Sophie Nick, Jr., F, Vassar
Cori Okada, Sr., G, RIT
Cassidy O'Malley, Jr., F, Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
Jackie Cenan, Jr., G, Vassar
Nicole Conley, Sr., F, Union
Christina Kiser, Fr., G, Bard
Tara Lynch, Sr., F, RIT
Sabrina Wolfe, So., F, RIT
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
Grace Cannon, So., G, Ithaca
Stavriana Dimitrakopoulou, So., G, William Smith
Elizabeth Eckhardt, Sr., G, RPI
LaKissa Martin, Sr., F, RPI
Isa Peczuh, Jr., G, Vassar
Brooke Stanley, Jr., G, RIT
Molly Stewart, Jr., G, Clarkson