STANDISH, Maine – Head Coach Mike McDevitt '83 has announced the 2016-17 women's basketball team awards. Four honors – Most Improved, Best Defensive, Most Valuable, and T.E.A.M. awards - were bestowed upon deserving team members following the completion of the 2017 campaign, which culminated with the program's third GNAC Championship in the last four years.
Junior forward Regan McFerran (Albany, N.Y.) has been named as the Monks' Most Improved Player after posting a breakthrough season as a first-year starter. The 5'9" post player averaged 6.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest and shot 37.9% (69-182) from the floor, 40.4% (21-52) from three-point distance, and 68.4% (26-38) from the free-throw line last winter. McFerran recorded the team's best three-point percentage with the third-highest rebounding average while appearing in all 29 games, including 26 starts.
McFerran also played an integral role in the Monks' GNAC Championship victory, as she tallied 16 points and 11 boards versus Emmanuel College on March 3rd.
Senior guard Abbie Eastman (Norway, Maine) has been selected as the team's Best Defensive Player for the third consecutive season after averaging 6.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals while starting all 29 of the Monks' contests last season. For her career, Eastman played in 110 games (81 starts) with 490 points, 307 rebounds, 228 assists, and 113 steals while shooting 35% (139-397) from the field, 32.7% (93-284) from beyond the arc, and 71.3% (119-167) from the FT line.
Sophomore guard Kelsi McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) has claimed the team's Most Valuable Player honor after leading the Monks in scoring (16.1 PPG), three-pointers made (79), free-throws made (87), free-throw percentage (.806), assists (135), steals (47), and blocked shots (10) during her second collegiate season. A lethal outside shooter, she shattered the Monks' single-season three-pointers made and attempted (217) records (previous marks: 68 & 179, respectively) last winter.
Following the tremendous season, McNamara garnered GNAC Player of the Year, First Team All-GNAC, First Team All-State, NEWBA All-New England Second Team, D3Hoops.com All-Northeast Region Third Team, and GNAC Tournament MVP accolades.
For the second consecutive season, junior guard Emily DeLuca (Gorham, Maine) has received the T.E.A.M. (Teamwork – Effort – Attitude - Motivation) Award. DeLuca, also a captain and All-Conference player for the SJC women's soccer team, appeared in 20 games with 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and six steals during her junior campaign.
Last winter, Saint Joseph's went 24-5 overall with a 15-1 record in GNAC play en route to earning the top seed in the conference's North Division. In GNAC Tournament action, the Monks successfully defended the 2016 crown with three tourney triumphs, including the championship victory over Emmanuel. With the automatic qualifier awarded to the GNAC Champion, Saint Joseph's advanced to NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years, but saw the 2017 season come to a close with an opening-round 65-44 loss at the hands of #4 Tufts University – which advanced all the way to the national championship - on March 3rd.
#GOMONKS
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram!
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
