Northwestern's DeWitt headlines UMAC Women's Basketball postseason awards

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ST. PAUL – The UMAC Women’s Basketball All-Conference First and Second Teams were about as diverse as one can ask for, as seven of the eight member-institutions were represented. The College of St. Scholastica, Martin Luther College, Northland College, Northwestern College and the University of Minnesota-Morris all had players on the first team, which was part of the conference’s basketball postseason awards that were announced on Friday.

The league’s five first team all-conference members in Kirsten Haukom, Erica Babinec, Lindsey Hamm, Katie DeWitt and Stephanie Roggenbuck all averaged 12 or more points per game in conference affairs this season.

DeWitt was named the UMAC Player of the Year after averaging 24.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in 2009-10. Both statistics were conference bests. DeWitt also landed on the Top 10 list for assists, where she contributed 2.7 per game.

Minnesota-Morris, who won its first-ever UMAC Championship in 2009-10, claimed the Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year awards. Emily Mehr was tabbed by the league’s coaches as the Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.2 points per game and placing fourth amongst all players in field goal percentage. Cougars head coach Tim Grove was named the Coach of the Year after his team’s championship season resulted in a 13-1 UMAC record. Minnesota-Morris led the league in scoring offense, scoring margin and rebounding defense.

Overall, Martin Luther, Northwestern and Minnesota-Morris each had three representatives on the awards list, while St. Scholastica, Bethany Lutheran, Northland and Presentation each had two.

In addition to the all-conference awards, the UMAC also released the all-defensive team. Bethany Lutheran’s Nicole Jones, St. Scholastica’s Haukom, Martin Luther’s Babinec, Presentation’s Becky Smith and Minnesota-Morris’ Jenni Noordmans were recognized by the league’s coaches as the best defensive players in the conference.

A full listing of the 2009-10 UMAC postseason awards is below.

1st Team All-Conference
Name
Institution
Year
Position
Kirsten Haukom
College of St. Scholastica
Senior
Guard
Erica Babinec
Martin Luther College
Sophomore
 Guard
Lindsey Hamm
Northland College
Senior
Guard
* Katie DeWitt
Northwestern College
Junior
Forward
Stephanie Roggenbuck
University of Minnesota-Morris
Junior
Forward
 
2nd Team All-Conference
Name
Institution
Year
Position
Nicole Jones
Bethany Lutheran College
Junior
Guard
Chelsea Lundgren
Northland College
Senior
Forward
Sara Gregersen
Presentation College
Junior
Center
Becky Smith
Presentation College
Senior
Guard
# Emily Mehr
University of Minnesota-Morris
Freshman
Forward

Honorable Mention All-Conference
Name
Institution
Year
Position
Anna Cepek
Bethany Lutheran College
Sophomore
Forward
Katie Christensen
College of St. Scholastica
Senior
Guard
Katherine Kogler
Martin Luther College
Senior
Forward
Sarah Free
Martin Luther College
Sophomore
Guard
Ariel Liesch
Northwestern College
Senior
Guard
Kaelee Kendrick
Northwestern College
Senior
Center
Brandi Cresap
University of Minnesota-Morris
Junior
Guard
 

All-Defensive Team
Name
Institution
Year
Position
Nicole Jones
Bethany Lutheran College
Junior
Guard
Kirsten Haukom
College of St. Scholastica
Senior
Guard
Erica Babinec
Martin Luther College
Sophomore
Guard
Becky Smith
Presentation College
Senior
Guard
Jenni Noordmans
University of Minnesota-Morris
Junior
Guard

* Player of the Year Award –
Katie DeWitt (Northwestern College
# Freshman of the Year Award – Emily Mehr (University of Minnesota-Morris)
Coach of the Year Award – Tim Grove (University of Minnesota-Morris)