HARRISONBURG, Va. - UNC Wilmington junior forward Brittany Blackwell was named Third-Team All-CAA and senior guard Casey Sawhook was recognized as an All-Academic Second-Team selection when the Colonial Athletic Association announced its annual awards Wednesday during its pre-tournament banquet on the campus of James Madison University.
Senior guard Greta Luksyte was also recognized as she was chosen as an All-Academic Honorable Mention and the team's Dean Ehlers Leadership Award recipient.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., Blackwell earned all-conference accolades for the third time in her career as she leads the Seahawks in points (13.1), rebounds (7.8), assists (2.9) and steals (2.3) while ranking among the league leaders in all four categories. Blackwell also ranks among the league leaders with eight double-doubles this season as she entered the program's career top 10 lists in scoring (1,225), rebounding (707) and steals (174) during the campaign.
"It is an honor for Brittany to be considered among the conference's elite players for a third straight season," said UNCW Head Coach Ann Hancock. "Her effort and energy sets the tone for our entire program and our players feed off of her intensity. She is committed to continually improving her game and she has done that this season as ranks among the league leaders in four major categories, making her one of the most complete players in the league."
A Business major with a concentration in Finance and Economics, Sawhook has amassed a cumulative GPA of 3.3 during her academic career. The New Kensington, Pa., product has become a key contributor during her final season with the program as Sawhook has played in all 29 games and made 20 starts at the point guard position while averaging 5.5 points, 1.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds. She has also served as the team's top threat from beyond the arc this season as she has made a team-high 33 three-pointers.
A Business major with a concentration in International Business, Luksyte has compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.2 during her academic career. The program's all-time leader in games played with 119 appearances in a UNCW uniform, Luksyte is third on the team in scoring (9.2) this season as she recently moved into tenth place on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,145 career points. The Vilinus, Lithuania, native will also finish her career as the program's career leader in free-throw percentage as she has made 81.1 percent (284-of-350) of her attempts from the charity stripe in her four-year career.
"It is very impressive to have the success both in the classroom and on the court that Casey and Greta have had this season," said Hancock. "To be focused on your academic priorities while also playing a sport at the Division I level requires the utmost dedication and determination. Both of those young ladies have demonstrated that effort and I firmly believe that they will be successful in whatever profession they choose after college because of it."
In other awards handed out Wednesday, Delaware's Elena Delle Donne was named CAA Player and Rookie-of-the-Year, becoming just the second player in league history to win both awards in the same season. Old Dominion's Wendy Larry was named Coach-of-the-Year for a league-record eighth time and VCU's Kita Waller earned Defensive Player-of-the-Year accolades. Drexel's Gabriela Marginean and Georgia State's were also honored as recipients of the prestigious Dean Ehlers Leadership Award.
2009-10 CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AWARD WINNERS
|
ALL-CAA FIRST TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Shanae Baker-Brice, Towson
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-6
|
Washington, D.C./Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
|
Fr.
|
F/G
|
6-5
|
Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
|
|
Dawn Evans, James Madison
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-7
|
Clarksville, Tenn./Northeast
|
|
Gabriela Marginean, Drexel
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-1
|
Cluj-Napoca, Romania/Mt. de Chantal Academy (W.Va.)
|
|
D'Andra Moss, VCU
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-0
|
Atlanta, Ga./Norcross
|
|
ALL-CAA SECOND TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Shante Evans, Hofstra
|
Fr.
|
F
|
6-0
|
West Chester, Pa./Henderson
|
|
Danyiell McKeller, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
F
|
5-11
|
Fayetteville, N.C./Westover
|
|
Jasmine Parker, Old Dominion
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-6
|
Norfolk, Va./Maury
|
|
Taysha Pye, William & Mary
|
So.
|
G
|
5-8
|
Bronx, N.Y./St. Annes-Belfield (Va.)
|
|
Kita Waller, VCU
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-11
|
Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville
|
|
ALL-CAA THIRD TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Brittany Blackwell, UNC Wilmington
|
Jr.
|
G/F
|
6-1
|
Raleigh, N.C./Cary Academy
|
|
Jessica Canady, Old Dominion
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-1
|
Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown
|
|
Shadasia Green, Old Dominion
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-9
|
Patterson, N.J./Eastside
|
|
Courtney Hurt, VCU
|
So.
|
F
|
6-0
|
Loganville, Ga./Salem
|
|
Brittany Wilson, Northeastern
|
So.
|
G
|
5-10
|
Pawtucket, R.I./Bay View
|
2010 CAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
2010 CAA COACH OF THE YEAR: Wendy Larry, Old Dominion
2010 CAA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
2010 CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kita Waller, VCU
2010 DEAN EHLERS LEADERSHIP AWARDS: Brittany Graham, Georgia State & Gabriela Marginean, Drexel
|
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
|
Fr.
|
F/G
|
6-5
|
Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
|
|
Emily Correal, William & Mary
|
Fr.
|
F
|
6-3
|
Venetia, Pa./Peter's Township
|
|
Amber Easter, George Mason
|
Fr.
|
G/F
|
5-11
|
Hampton, Va./Bethel
|
|
Shante Evans, Hofstra
|
Fr.
|
F
|
6-0
|
West Chester, Pa./Henderson
|
|
Tarik Hislop, James Madison
|
Fr.
|
G
|
5-7
|
Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch
|
|
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Tiffany Benson, William & Mary
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-1
|
Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne
|
|
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
|
Fr.
|
F/G
|
6-5
|
Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
|
|
Jess Fuller, Hofstra
|
Jr.
|
C
|
6-4
|
Queens, N.Y./Monroe C.C.
|
|
Jasmine Parker, Old Dominion
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-6
|
Norfolk, Va./Maury
|
|
Kita Waller, VCU
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-11
|
Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville
|
|
ALL-ACADEMIC FIRST TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Mari Buchan, Old Dominion
|
So.
|
C
|
6-2
|
Stirlingshire, Scotland/Portobello
|
|
Marisa Crane, Drexel
|
So.
|
G
|
5-5
|
Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus
|
|
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
|
Fr.
|
F/G
|
6-5
|
Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
|
|
Angelee LaTouche, George Mason
|
Jr.
|
F/C
|
6-2
|
Kingston, Jamaica/Tallahassee C.C.
|
|
Sarah Williams, James Madison
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-0
|
Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
|
|
ALL-ACADEMIC SECOND TEAM
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Candice Bellocchio, Hofstra
|
So.
|
G
|
5-6
|
Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's
|
|
Nicole Capurso, Hofstra
|
So.
|
G
|
5-9
|
Staten Island, N.Y./St. John Villa Academy
|
|
Meghan McLean, Delaware
|
So.
|
G
|
5-9
|
Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair
|
|
Kayla Miller, Delaware
|
So.
|
G
|
5-8
|
Wilmington, Del./George Washington
|
|
Casey Sawhook, UNC Wilmington
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-6
|
New Kensington, Pa./Valley
|
|
ALL-ACADEMIC HONORABLE MENTION
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Robyn Barton, William & Mary
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-0
|
Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa
|
|
Sam Brigham, Hofstra
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-10
|
Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury
|
|
Taryn Christian, Northeastern
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-11
|
Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook
|
|
Brittany Eley, George Mason
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-0
|
Waldorf, Md./Westlake
|
|
Farrah Ferguson, Delaware
|
Sr.
|
C
|
6-4
|
Penllyn, Pa./Wissahickon
|
|
Kiara Francisco, James Madison
|
So.
|
G/F
|
5-10
|
Lakeland, Fla./Winter Haven
|
|
Tyler Hale, Drexel
|
So.
|
F
|
6-0
|
Baltimore, Md./Towson Catholic
|
|
Rashauna Hobbs, George Mason
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-5
|
Bowie, Md./Riverdale Baptist
|
|
Courtney Hurt, VCU
|
So.
|
F
|
6-1
|
Coyers, Ga./Salem
|
|
Dani Iervolino, Northeastern
|
So.
|
G
|
5-5
|
Manhassett, N.Y./St. John the Baptist
|
|
Greta Luksyte, UNC Wilmington
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-10
|
Vilnius, Lithuania/Walsingham Academy
|
|
Gabriela Marginean, Drexel
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-1
|
Cluj-Napoca, Romania/Mt. de Chantal Academy (W.Va.)
|
|
Mia Mayberry, Northeastern
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-2
|
Rock Island, Ill. /Rock Island
|
|
Lindsey Moller, William & Mary
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-10
|
Longmont, Colo./Longmont
|
|
Shay Rawls, Georgia State
|
Sr.
|
F/C
|
6-2
|
Augusta, Ga./Cross Creek
|
|
Jasmina Rosseel, Drexel
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-8
|
Ieper, Belgium/Sint-Theresia Instituut
|
|
Haliena Snowden, Towson
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-0
|
Laurel, Md./Seton Keough
|
|
Chelsea Snyder, VCU
|
So.
|
C
|
6-6
|
Grendall, N.J./Newton
|
|
Jennifer Stjarnström, Drexel
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-2
|
Norrkoping, Sweden/De Geer Gymnasiet
|
|
Jalissa Taylor, James Madison
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-3
|
Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird
|
|
Aamira Terry, Hofstra
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-8
|
Atlanta, Ga./W.D. Mohammed
|
|
Isoken Uzamere, Hofstra
|
Jr.
|
F/C
|
6-2
|
Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood
|
