Marist's Fitz Named Preseason Player of the Year

Marist's Fitz Named Preseason Player of the Year

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MAAC Sports

EDISON, N.J. – Marist College senior forward Rachele Fitz has been selected as the 2009-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, as chosen by the MAAC’s 10 head coaches.

Fitz is joined on the first team by teammate Erica Allenspach, a junior guard, Canisius College senior guard Brittané Russell, Iona College senior guard Thazina Cook, and Rider University senior guard/forward Tammy Meyers.

Fitz, a two-time MAAC Player of the Year honoree, finished first in the conferencelast season in scoring (20.5 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg), and field goal percentage as she connected on 59.8% of her attempts. She was fifth in both free throw percentage and blocked shots per game. Fitz, who was named MAAC Player of the Week six times last year, has a chance to become the MAAC's all-time greatest scorer this season. Currently 11th on the list, she needs 624 points to move into first place.

Allenspach, a 2008-09 Third Team All-MAAC selection, averaged 8.8 points per game and 3.1 assists per game a year ago. She finished second in the conference in three-point percentage (39.2%) and was third in assist-turnover ratio (1.71).

Russell was selected as the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year last season and was named to the All-MAAC Second Team. She helped lead the Griffs to the WNIT with 10.7 points per game and 3.7 assists per contest. She was third in the league with 2.5 steals per game and fifth in assist-turnover ratio (1.38).

Cook, a 2008-09 All-MAAC First Team selection, finished fifth on the MAAC scoring chart last season, netting 14.8 points per contest. She was ninth in the league in rebounding (6.7 rpg) and fourth in steals per game (2.2). 

Meyers, a member of the 2008-09 All-MAAC Second Team, was sixth in the league in scoring with 14.2 points per game. Meyers finished in the top-10 in assists per game (3.4), free-throw percentage (75.7%), and steals per game (1.8). She also pulled down 5.6 rebounds per contest.

2009-2010 Preseason All-MAAC Teams
First Team
Brittané Russell, Canisius Sr. G 5-5 Southfield, Mich.
Thazina Cook, Iona Sr. G 5-9 Roselle, N.J.
Erica Allenspach, Marist Jr. G 5-8 Miamisburg, Ohio     
Rachele Fitz, Marist Sr. F 6-0 Seven Hills, Ohio
Tammy Meyers, Rider Sr. G/F 5-9 Willingboro, N.J.

Second Team
Ellie Radke, Canisius Sr. F 6-0 Monroe, Wisc.
Stephanie Geehan, Fairfield Sr. F 6-0 Braintree, Mass.
Kristina Ford, Iona So. F 6-1 Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Anda Ivkovic, Ion Jr. F 6-1 Subotica, Serbia
Anna McLean, Iona Sr. C 6-2 Freeport, N.Y.

Third Team
Micayla Drysdale, Canisius Jr. G 5-9 Binbrook, Ontario
Kaitlin Grant, Loyola Sr. F 6-0 Elmont, N.Y.
Lynzee Johnson, Marist Sr. G/F 5-10 Bellbrook, Ohio     
Liz Flooks, Niagara Jr. F 5-10 White Plain, N.Y.
Allie Lindemann, Siena Sr. G 5-8 Champaign, Ill.

2009-2010 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year:
Rachele Fitz, Marist