MAAC Announces 2012-13 Women's Basketball Preseason Teams

11/1/2012 5:15:00 PM

MAAC Sports

Edison, N.J. - The MAAC announces the 2012-13 MAAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-MAAC Teams, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches.

The Preseason First Team includes Loyola University Maryland senior guard Katie Sheahin, Siena College senior forward Lily Grenci, Iona College sophomore guard Damika Martinez, Niagara University junior guard Kayla Stroman, Marist College junior guard Leanne Ockenden, and Canisius College junior forward Jamie Ruttle.

One of these five players will be named the 2012-13 MAAC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year during the 2012-13 MAAC Basketball Preseason Awards Show on Friday, November 9 at 6:15 p.m., live on ESPN3.

Sheahin earned second-consecutive MAAC Defensive Player of the Year last year, becoming second player in conference history to earn the award in back-to-back seasons. She also was named to All-MAAC First Team. Sheahin led Loyola and ranked third in the MAAC with 15.1 points per game. She led the MAAC with 3.4 steals per game and had 102 total steals last season.

Grenci was an All-MAAC First Team selection and named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year last year.  She ranked second in the MAAC in scoring (15.2) and third in rebounding (7.8). Grenci recorded six double-doubles and scored 20+ points seven times. She was the only player in the conference to score in double figures in all 18 regular season MAAC games.

Martinez was the 2011-12 MAAC Rookie of the Year,  and earned MAAC All-Second Team honors.  She appeared in 31 games, making 30 starts and finished the season averaging team-high 16 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 81.6 percent from the free throw line.

Stroman made the All-MAAC Second Team last season and was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Third team.  After redshirting in 2010-11 after an injury, Stroman came back to start in all 32 games in 2011-12 and led the team in points per game (10.8), steals (81), and assists (124).

Ockenden earned All-MAAC Third Team honors last season. She was 10^th in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 43.4 percent from the field. Ockenden played in all 34 games for the Red Foxes, starting 32 of them.

Ruttle was named to the All-MAAC Third Team last year. She is the first Canisius sophomore to earn All-MAAC honors since the 2004-05 season. Ruttle led the team in points per game (11.7) and rebounds per game (5.3). She ranked 11^th in the MAAC in scoring and 16^th in rebounding.

 

2012-2013 Preseason All-MAAC Teams

 

First Team

Katie Sheahin, Loyola,,Sr., G, 5-10, Brookeville, Md.

Lily Grenci, Siena, Sr., F, 6-1, Mars, Pa.

Damika Martinez, Iona, So., G, 5-7, Meriden, Conn.

Kayla Stroman, Niagara, Jr., G, 5-5, Syracuse, N.Y.

Leanne Ockenden, Marist, Jr., G, 5-10, Syracuse, N.Y.

Jamie Ruttle, Canisius, Jr., F, 6-3, Burlington, Ontario

Second Team

MyNeshia McKenzie, Rider, Jr., G/F, 5-11, Springfield, Pa.

Elizabeth Beynnon, Marist, Sr., F/G, 6-2, Burlington, Vt.

Kara Marshall, Loyola, So., G, 5-8, Gaithersburg, Md.

Monica Roeder, Manhattan , Jr., G/F, 6-0, Marlton, N.J.

Lauren Gatto, Niagara, Jr., C, 6-2, Mayfield, Ohio.

Third Team

Katelyn Linney, Fairfield, Sr., G, 5-8, Freehold, N.J.

Casey Dulin, Marist, Jr., G , 5-10, Milford, Conn.

Caitlin Bopp, Rider, Sr., F/C, 6-2, Baltimore, Md.

Aleesha Powell, Iona, So., G, 5-6, Philadelphia, Pa.

Tori Jarosz, Marist, So., F/C, 6-3, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Kristina Danella, Marist, Sr., G/F, 6-1, Manalapan, N.J.