7 Blue Knight Ballers Earn All-Independent Nods
Lane Leads 4 UU Women's Picks on All-Indy Teams
Vogel, Ducey, and Jackson also honored as Blue Knights take 2nd amongst 8 Independent squads
URBANA, Ohio (May 24, 2010) - Led by Unique Lane's First Team selection, the Urbana University women's basketball team landed 4 players on the NCAA Division II All-Independent teams released today. Lane, a 5'9" forward from Xenia, Ohio, earned the First Team nod after leading the Blue Knights in points (12.3 ppg), rebounds (7.1), and steals (2.1). Lane led the Blue Knights with 5 double-doubles on the season, playing in all 27 games. Her 49.5% field goal shooting was good for 2nd on the squad, and 6th all-time at UU. Lane reached double digit scoring 22 times, including in 19 of the Blue Knight's final 21 games, and she shot 82.8% from the charity stripe, which is 4th all-time at UU.
Behind Lane and a very balanced attack, the Blue Knights finished 2nd amongst the NCAA D-II Independents at 17-10. After an 0-5 start, Urbana won 17 of their final 22 games. Unfortunately, a pair of losses to Lake Erie College (18-9) over that stretch cost them the Independent title.
Lake Erie Head Coach Bob Booher earned Independent Coach of the Year honors after capturing the title and leading the Storm to the most successful season in Lake Erie history. The University of the District of Columbia's Lillian McGill took Player of the Year honors after averaging 15.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest for the 4th place Firebirds (12-13). Freshman of the Year went to Urbana's Andrea Vogel (Bluffton, Indiana/Norwell HS). Vogel finished right behind Lane in both points and rebounds for the Blue Knights. The 6'2" center scored 10.0 points and pulled down 6.8 rebounds per game. In her first collegiate season, she dominated on the defensive side of the ball, swatting away a team-high 44 shots, including a school-record 7 against fellow D-II Independent Central State. Vogel led the team in FG%, hitting 52.8% of her attempts, placing her 3rd all-time at UU in that category. Her 17-rebound game against Marygrove was the 6th best single-game rebounding performance in UU's history. Vogel excelled as the season wore on, reaching double digit scoring in 15 of the final 22 contests. The Blue Knights were 17-5 during that impressive stretch.
Rounding out Urbana's selections were repeat picks sophomore Haley Ducey (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf HS) and senior Jalyssa Jackson (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn HS). Ducey was an All-Freshman Team selection last year, and this season, she made the All-Independent Second Team as a second-year standout. The 6'0" guard finished 2nd on the team in minutes, assists and blocks. Her 28 blocks were the most ever by a Blue Knight guard. On 7 different occasions, Ducey was UU's top scorer, averaging 9.8 ppg, which was good for 3rd on the team. She also notched a double-double against Ohio Dominican, and she was the team's leading 3-point shooter. Ducey is currently 4th all-time at UU in 3-point shooting percentage and 1st all-time in FT% (89.4%). In her final bucket of the season, she reached 500 career points.
Jackson also enjoyed a stellar second season in a Blue Knight uniform. The 5'10" senior guard often ran the point and directed an efficient Urbana offense that outscored its opponents by almost 6 points per game. Starting all 27 games, Jackson averaged 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. A constant threat for a triple-double, Jackson reached double digits 11 times, while leading the team in assists on 16 different occasions. Jackson was a repeat selection on the All-Independent teams after making the Third Team last year as a junior. In a career that spanned just 2 seasons at UU after transferring from Charleston, Jackson finished 11th in career assists (202).
The rest of the All-Independent Teams, along with the final season standings are below. The All-Independent Teams were selected and voted upon by the Athletics Communications department at the University of Dayton.
Final Season Standings
1. Lake Erie (18-9)
2. Urbana University (17-10)
3. North Greenville (15-15)
4. District of Columbia (12-13)
5. Oakland City (9-15)
6. Central State (9-16)
7. Palm Beach Atlantic (6-18)
8. Washington Adventist (1-23)
NCAA DIVISION II ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAMS
Coach of the Year: Bob Booher, Lake Erie
Player of the Year: Lillian McGill, District of Columbia
Freshman of the Year: Andrea Vogel, Urbana
FIRST TEAM
Lillian McGill, District of Columbia
Alyssa Wagers, Lake Erie
Unique Lane, Urbana
Renese Ames, Lake Erie
Whitney Smith, North Greenville
SECOND TEAM
Samantha Stahl, Oakland City
Jen Caiola, Lake Erie
Haley Ducey, Urbana
Karly Stache, North Greenville
Brooklyn Morrow, Central State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Andrea Vogel, Urbana
Ashley Dolberry
Palm Beach Atlantic
Krisceda Cotton, North Greenville
Sarah Roth, Oakland City
Deshundra Gober, Central State
HONORABLE MENTION
Stephanie Rogers, Lake Erie; Jalyssa Jackson, Urbana; Nicole Cooper, District of Columbia; Kristi McVey, Oakland City; Ashley McGee, Central State; Erin Duffie, Washington Adventist; Selethia Jackson, Palm Beach Atlantic
Wilson Named Independent Freshman of the Year
Ellis makes 2nd Team, Nicholson named Honorable Mention
URBANA, Ohio (May 24, 2010) - Urbana University freshman Robert Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro HS) headlined the NCAA Division II All-Independent selections released today. Wilson, 6'3" guard/forward, was named Freshman of the Year. Wilson was also a First Team selection, as well as an All-Freshmen Team selection. He was the only freshman to make either the First or Second Teams. In his first collegiate season, Wilson led the Blue Knights in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He started all 27 games, leading Urbana to a 14-13 finish, clinching the program's first winning season in 13 years.
Wilson's mark of 8.8 rebounds per game was the most by a Blue Knights since the 1995-96 season, and remarkably, he got stronger as the season wore on. He reached double-figures scoring in each of the team's final 16 contests, averaging 19.0 ppg over the final 9 games. Wilson notched a team-high 9 double-doubles on the season, and finished 2nd on the team in assists, steals, blocked shots and 3-point shooting percentage. The Blue Knights 14-13 record was good for 4th amongst the 8 NCAA Division II Independents.
Taking top honors as Independent Player of the Year was North Greenville's Paul Harrison. Harrison averaged 22.4 ppg, 8.8 rebounds per game, while shooting an incredible 63.3% from the floor for the 16-12 Crusaders. Last year, the Independent Player of the Year was Oakland City's Brandon Hopf, who averaged an identical 22.4 ppg, 8 rpg, and 63.3% shooting last season for the Mighty Oaks. Hopf's numbers slipped to 14.5 ppg, 6 rpg on 65.1% shooting this season. Harrison was named Independent Freshman of the Year last season, after averaging 16 ppg, 9.3 rpg on 57% shooting. Central State Head Coach Doug Lewis was named Coach of the Year after leading the Marauders to an Independent-best 22-6 record, including a berth in the NCAA D-II National Tournament. Lewis was also named the Independent's top coach last season.
Wilson's UU teammate T.R. Ellis (Detroit, Michigan/Melvindale HS) landed on the All-Independent Second Team. The 6'4" senior guard played all 27 games for the Blue Knights, leading the team in assists, assists-to-turnover ratio, and 3-pointers made. His 9.4 ppg was good for 3rd on the team. He also finished 3rd in free throw percentage and steals. In his final season as a Blue Knight, he orchestrated an 8-point turnaround, the 2nd largest in school history at UU.
Urbana sophomore Clint Nicholson (Willoughby, Ohio/Eastlake North HS) rounded out the Blue Knights' selections on the All-Independent teams. He was named Honorable Mention. The 6'2" guard battled through some injuries, but still managed to finish 2nd on the team in scoring and rebounding at 13.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Nicholson tied Ellis for the team lead with 42 threes on the season, shooting 34.1% from behind the arc. His 38 steals led the team, and Nicholson was at his best at home in the Grimes Center where he reached double figures in all 9 of his home games. The Blue Knights finished 8-1 in those contests behind Nicholson's 16.8 ppg.
The rest of the All-Independent Teams, along with the final season standings are below. The All-Independent Teams were selected and voted upon by the Athletics Communications department at the University of Dayton.
Final Season Standings
1. Central State University (22-6)
2. Oakland City University (21-9)
3. North Greenville University (16-12)
4. Urbana University (14-13)
5. Lake Erie College (11-16)
6. Washington Adventist University (6-18)
7. Palm Beach Atlantic University (6-24)
8. University of the District of Columbia (1-20)
NCAA Division II All-Independent Teams
Coach of the Year: Doug Lewis, Central State
Player of the Year: Paul Harrison, North Greenville
Freshman of the Year: Robert Wilson, Urbana
FIRST TEAM
Paul Harrison, North Greenville
Robert Wilson, Urbana
Ethan Bradshaw, Lake Erie College
Jared Maners, Oakland City
Anthony Passley, Central State
SECOND TEAM
Gino Smith, Central State
Nathan Schumacher, Oakland City
T.R. Ellis, Urbana
Chris Joseph, Palm Beach Atlantic
Cole Prophet, Central State
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Robert Wilson, Urbana
Luke Lattimer, North Greenville
Garrick Sims, Lake Erie College
Antonio Ortega, Washington Adventist
Dante Valentine, Palm Beach Atlantic
HONORABLE MENTION
Nigel Munson, District of Columbia; Khalid Martin, Washington Adventist; Brandon Hopf, Oakland City; Clint Nicholson, Urbana; Branden Washington, Washington Adventist; Tim Ellison, District of Columbia.