STANDISH, Maine – Head Coach Mike McDevitt '83 has announced the 2015-16 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 2016 campaign, which culminated with the program's second GNAC Championship in the last three seasons.
Freshman forward Emily Benway (Rochester, N.H.) has been chosen as the Monks' 2016 Most Improved Player. Benway averaged 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.8% (87-186) from the floor and 59.6% (31-52) from the free throw line while appearing in 28 games, including 21 starts. The 2016 Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) All-Rookie Team honoree ranked second on the team in rebounding and field goal percentage and third in scoring average and field goals made last season.
Junior guard Abbie Eastman (Norway, Maine) has been selected as the team's Best Defensive Player for the second consecutive season after averaging 2.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest in her second year as a starter. Eastman finished the season ranked second on the squad in steals and assists and registered a solid 1.5 assist to turnover ratio while starting all 29 contests last winter.
For the second consecutive season, senior center Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) has been named as the Monks' Most Valuable Player. The two-year captain contributed 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.2 blocked shots per game while shooting 48.0% (182-379) from the field and 70.4% (76-108) from the free throw line. She led the team in field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, rebounds (238), blocked shots (64), and points (440) and, following the season, claimed First Team All-GNAC, First Team All-State, GNAC All-Tournament Team, NEWBA Second Team All-New England, and Third Team D3Hoops.com All-New England honors.
in 110 career games, the four-year starter ranks among the Monks' all-time leaders in points (1,651, 2nd), rebounds (876, 5th), field goals made (662, 2nd), field goals attempted (1,414, 2nd), free throws made (327, 4th), free throws attempted (479, 5th), blocked shots (222, 1st), rebounding average (8.0, 7th), and scoring average (15.0, 7th) and finished her career as the only player in program history to lead the Monks in scoring and rebounding for four consecutive years.
Sophomore guard Emily DeLuca (Gorham, Maine) has received the T.E.A.M. (Teamwork – Effort – Attitude - Motivation) Award. DeLuca, also a starter on the SJC women's soccer team, appeared in 11 contests with four points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals last season.
As the top seed in the 2016 GNAC Tournament, Saint Joseph's topped #8 Rivier University, 72-62, in the quarterfinal round and defeated #4 Suffolk University, 74-58, in semifinal action to advance to the GNAC championship tilt. Led by 23rd-year Head Coach Mike McDevitt '83, the Monks defeated perennial powerhouse Emmanuel College, 66-62, in the GNAC Championship on Saturday, February 27th in Standish to claim an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament.
