ECAC Announces DI Women's Basketball All-ECAC Teams and Major Award Winners
DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2019 Division I Women's Basketball All-ECAC Team.
Syracuse University Guard Tiana Mangakahia was voted Player of the Year while Brandy Thomas from LIU Brooklyn was awarded Rookie of the Year. Diane Richardson, head coach at Towson University, was named Coach of the Year.
Mangakahia, a junior guard from Brisbane, Australia was a true point guard for the Orange, dishing out 268 assists on the year, averaging 8.4 a game. The Nancy Lieberman Award finalist also scored 16.7 points per game while pulling down 4.9 rebounds per game. Mangakahia was named ACC Player of the Week four times and All-ACC First Team. She was just named Honorable Mention in the AP All-American Team.
Thomas, a freshman forward from Baldwin, NY was one of only two players in the NEC to average a double-double this season, posting 13.9 points per game and 10.4 rebound per game, both of which were most in the league amongst rookies. Her 15 double-doubles throughout the year were the most in the nation this year by a first-year player. Thomas accumulated an impressive collection of awards being named NEC Rookie of the Week six times, NEC All-Rookie Team, All-NEC Third Team, and NEC Rookie of the Year.
Coach Diane Richardson continues to change the fortunes of the Towson program as she made history this year leading the program to its first ever CAA title. The team won three straight games in the CAA tournament, holding opponents under 50 points in each to secure the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. In an incredible year to year turnaround, Richardson more than doubled the teams wins from a year ago from nine to 20, marking only the second 20-win season in program history.
ECAC Division I Women's Basketball Awards and All-ECAC Selections
Player of the Year
Tiana Mangakahia - Syracuse University, Jr., G
Rookie of the Year
Brandy Thomas - LIU Brooklyn, Fr., F
Coach of the Year
Diane Richardson - Towson University
All-ECAC First Team
Stella Johnson - Rider University, Jr., G
Jess Kovatch - Saint Francis University, Sr., G
Tiana Mangakahia - Syracuse University, Jr., G
Blanca Millan - University of Maine, Jr., G
Chance Graham - Coppin State University, Jr., F
All-ECAC Honorable Mention
Jess Genco - Northeastern University, Sr., G
Kionna Jeter - Towson University, R-So., G
Nneka Ezeigbo - Robert Morris University, Jr., C
Madison Hovren - United States Military Academy, Sr., F
Mary Goulding - Fordham University, Sr., F
Bre Cavanaugh - Fordham University, R-So., G
Teniya Page - Penn State University, Sr., G
Amy O'Neil - St. Francis College, Sr., G
Eleah Parker - University of Pennsylvania, So., C
Kayla Cooper-Williams - James Madison University, R-Jr., C
Brandy Thomas - LIU Brooklyn, Fr., F
Aryn McClure - Quinnipiac University, Sr., G/F
ABOUT THE ECAC
Established in 1938, the ECAC is the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. The ECAC hosts numerous championships in men's and women's sports across Divisions I, II and III, offering opportunities for thousands of student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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