Seely, Nick Claim 2016-17 DIII North Women's Basketball Major Awards
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016-17 Division III North Women’s Basketball Major Awards and All-Star team.
Misericordia University senior Justine Seely earned the Player of the Year honor, while Vassar College freshman Sophie Nick garnered the Rookie of the Year award. Misericordia University Head Coach Jason Rhine was awarded Coach of the Year.
Seely was named the MAC Freedom Player of the Year after leading Misericordia to a 19-9 overall record. Through the 26 regular-season and conference-tournament games, the senior averaged a double-double with 15.5 points per game and 11.9 boards per game. The forward also tallied 402 points, 309 rebounds and 149 field goals.
Nick claimed the Liberty League Rookie of the Year honor after making an immediate impact at Vassar. The freshman started all 25 games for the Brewers as she paced the squad in rebounding (212) and blocks (14), and averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 88.6 percent from the charity stripe. In an accolade-filled freshman season, Nick was a four-time ECAC North Rookie of the Week selection, received Liberty League Rookie of the Week seven times, and was named to the Liberty League Honor Roll once.
Rhine led Misericordia to a 19-9 overall record and was named the MAC Freedom Coach of the Year. He took over a team that went 7-18 last year and went on to win more games in 2016-17 than the last three seasons combined. Rhine and his Misericordia squad earned the second seed in the conference tournament, before eventually succumbing in double-overtime in the league semifinals. He placed three student-athletes on all-conference teams (one first team, one second team, one honorable mention), as well as coaching Seely to MAC Freedom and ECAC Player of the Year honors.
2016-17 ECAC Division III North Women’s Basketball All-Star Team
Player of the Year
Justine Seely – Misericordia University, Sr.
Rookie of the Year
Sophie Nick – Vassar College, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Jason Rhine – Misericordia University
First Team
Justine Seely – Misericordia University, Sr.
Cassidy Chapko – SUNY Cortland, Sr.
Alexandra Leslie – University of Rochester, Jr.
Catherine Bialecki – Alfred State College, So.
Sam Sorge – Nazareth College, Sr.
Second Team
Melanie Patterson – William Smith College, Sr.
Devin Sorell – Clarkson University, Jr.
Ariella Rosenthal – Vassar College, Jr.
Jordan Anderson – Morrisville State College, Sr.
Ali Ricchiuti – Ithaca College, Sr.
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