Robbins, Brown, and Main named to NECC All-Conference

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Three Wheelock Wildcat basketball players were named to the 2009-2010 New England Collegiate Conference all-conference team on Friday as announced by commissioner Del Malloy. Sherard Robbins was named NECC first team, while Sarah Brown and Dan Main both received honorable mention.

The Elms College Blazers’ senior guard Juan Maldonado (Holyoke, Mass.), a social work major, was named the 2009-10 NECC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. In conference play, Maldonado finished fourth in scoring (17.1 ppg),  3^rd in three-point field goals made (3.1 ppg), 2^nd in three-point field goals percentage(.449), 15^th  in field goal percentage (.466), 10^th  in assists (2.9 apg) and 11^th in steals (1.6 spg). In overall statistics, he is third in scoring (17.6 ppg), first in free throw percentage (.868), third in steals (2.2 spg), first in three-point field goal percentage (.462) and second in three-point field goals made (3.2 ppg). Early in the season, Maldonado became Elms’ all-time leading scorer.

Newbury College Nighthawk freshman guard Tim Young (Brockton, Mass.) nabbed the 2009-10 NECC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year for his first season of collegiate play. Young, a communications major, finished right behind Maldonado at fifth in conference scoring, averaging 16.9 points per game and second in three-point field goals made at 3.2 points per game.  Young led his team this season in scoring with 433 points. He received the NECC Rookie of the Week five times and was also named NECC Player of the Week once.

The Becker College Hawks (17-8) took top honors as they finished at the top of the conference with a 13-1 record.  The Hawks’ head coach Brian Gorman was named the 2009-10 NECC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. Gorman, who is in his third season with Becker, has a .578 winning percentage (52-30). Last season, he led the Hawks to the 2008-09 ECAC Men’s Basketball Championship title.

The Mariners of Mitchell College, led by head coach Todd Peretz, were honored as the 2009-10 NECC Team Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Mariners finished with a 4-19 overall record and 3-11 in conference play.

Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among all NECC men’s basketball head coaches.

Joining Maldonado on All-NECC First Team were Wheelock senior Sherard Robbins (Malden, Mass.), Daniel Webster junior Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.), Becker junior Rajai Leggett (New Haven, Conn.) and Southern Vermont senior Joe Karnik (Castleton, N.Y.).

Second team honors went out to Southern Vermont junior Lance Spratling (Pittsfield, Mass.), Becker sophomore Terrance Favors (Boston, Mass.), Elms senior Javon Mathis (West Hartford, Conn.), Becker junior Trey Jacobs (Lexington Park, Md.) and Lesley junior Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.).

Five players received honorable mention including Young, Elms forward Edgar Martinez (Springfield, Mass.), Mitchell senior Michael DePaolo (Asbury, N.J.), Lesley sophomore John Sanchez (Carson, Calif.) and Wheelock junior Dan Main (Hopedale, Mass.).

The Daniel Webster Eagles (20-5) took top honors as they finished first in the NECC at 15-1. The Eagles’ sophomore guard Vanessa Bosques (N. Windham, Conn.), a sport management major, was named the 2009-10 NECC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. In conference play, Bosques averaged 16.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. She was the NECC leading scorer throughout conference play. Bosques is 14^th in rebounding, 11^th in field goal percentage (.435), first in free-throw percentage (.978), 12^th in steals, third in three-point field goal percentage (.395), 2^nd in three-point field goals made (2.8 ppg) and seventh in blocked shots (0.6 bpg). Overall, she averaged 17.1 points per game, which tops the NECC, and ranks 15^th overall in boards with 6.0 rebounds per game. Bosques broke the Eagles’ single season all-time three-point shooting record.

The Newbury College Nighthawks’ freshman center Catherine O’Connell (Quincy, Mass.) nabbed the 2009-10 NECC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year award for her first season of collegiate play. O’Connell, a sport management major, topped all NECC players in rebounding at 14.8 boards per game. O’Connell is also ranked fifth amongst all NCAA DIII players. She is 11^th in scoring at 12.6, 8^th in field goal percentage (.452) and second in blocked shots (2.0 bpg).  Overall, O’Connell is at 13.2 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game. She was named NECC Rookie of the Week six times and Player of the Week once, while earning NEWBA Rookie of the Week and DIII Hoops Team of the Week for her efforts.

Bosques was joined by her head coach Heather Jacobs for top conference honors. Jacobs was named the 2009-10 NECC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year. She led the Eagles to their best record in the program’s history at 20-5. Jacobs, in her third season, has .660 winning percentage guiding the Eagles to a 47-31 record.

The Blazers of Elms College (11-15), led by head coach Laura Habacker, were honored as the 2009-10 NECC Team Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Eagles finished 9-7 in conference play and earned the #4 seed in the 2009 New England Collegiate Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among all NECC women’s basketball head coaches.

Joining Bosques on All-NECC First Team was fellow Eagles’ junior Joyce Chagan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine), Lesley senior Hailee Lowe (Hamilton, Mass.), Bay Path senior Jessica Hunt (Madison, Conn.), and Mitchell senior Jennifer Iglesias (Waterbury, Conn.).

Second team honors went out to O’Connell along with Mitchell sophomore Destiney Harris (Bristol, Conn.), Elms sophomore Carolyn Talmadge (Wilbraham, Mass.), Daniel Webster sophomore Alycia Gervais (Windham, Conn.)and Lesley junior Kaitlyn Wechsler (Merrick, N.Y.).

Five players received honorable mention including Becker junior Heidi Miller (Sanbornton, N.H.), Wheelock senior Sarah Brown (Plainville, Conn.), Lesley senior Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.), Newbury senior Katelyn Mark (Quincy, Mass.) and Becker senior Courtney Fiske (Westfield, Mass.).