Following a vote by the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season, the Liberty League has announced its 2024-25 Women's Basketball Major Awards and All-League Teams.
PLAYER AND DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tova Gelb, Senior, Guard, Vassar College
Vassar College senior guard Tova Gelb was named the Liberty League Women’s Basketball Player and Defensive Player of the Year. It is the second straight year a women’s basketball player garners both accolades. Gelb has played in all 27 games for the Brewers this season while leading the team and conference in scoring (18.6 points per game), rebounds (10.7 per game), and steals (2.6 per game). She was also among league leaders in field goal percentage (2nd, .480), free throw percentage (5th, .792), blocks (8th, 1.1 per game), and assists (9th, 2.9 per game). Nationally, she is ranked 19th in rebounds with 290 and 25th in points with 502. Gelb tallied 20 or more points in a game 12 times this season and broke the program’s single season game record for scoring with 36 points in mid-January. The seven-time Liberty League Performer of the Week has registered double-figures in rebounds 19 times and totaled 18 double-doubles on the year, good for fifth in Division III. She posted a double-double in six of the last seven games of the regular season and in both Liberty League tournament games. Gelb helped the Brewers to their second consecutive Liberty League title and second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Caroline Henderson, Guard, Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT first-year Caroline Henderson was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Henderson had a breakout rookie campaign with the Tigers, starting and playing in all 27 games this year. She ended the year as the team’s top scorer, averaging 13.0 points per game, ranking fifth in the conference and third in total points (335). Henderson, a three-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection, found much success beyond the arc with a league-best 42.4 percent 3-pointer shooting percentage this season. She also topped the conference with 72 total 3-pointers and 2.7 3-pointers per game. With her 72 threes, Henderson broke RIT’s single season record in 3-pointers, which was previously 68 set in 2015-16. Henderson is among Division III’s top 30 in 3-pointer percentage (16th), 3-pointers (T-21st), and 3-pointers per game (27th).
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rochester Institute of Technology – Melissa Kuberka, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Ralph Damerell, Brianne Moxley, and Emily Nestler
The RIT Women’s Basketball coaching staff was recognized as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Head Coach Melissa Kuberka and her assistants directed the Tigers to an overall record of 15-12 and a 12-6 mark against league opponents in their first year with the program. RIT improved its overall record by six wins from a year ago. Originally picked to finish sixth in the 2024-25 Liberty League preseason poll, the Tigers returned to the league tournament for the first time since 2022 as the fourth seed. They advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2019. As a team, RIT was third in the conference in scoring offense (63.3) and boasted a league-best 41.6 percent field goal shooting percentage to go along with a league-best 34.5 percent 3-pointer shooting percentage.