EDISON, NJ - Marist College men's basketball standout David Bennett and Niagara University women's tennis standout Milena Matijevic were named the 2002-03 New York Lottery MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year, by the league's sports information directors.
The MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration created the New York Lottery MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year in October 2001 to recognize overall excellence in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community. Each MAAC member selected one male and one female nominee for the honor. The conference sports information directors voted to determine one overall winner for men and women. The conference awarded honorable mention awards to each nominee. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 overall grade point average, be in their second year of residence at the institution, and be a starter or important reserve on their team.
"The New York State Lottery is to be commended for its commitment to education with its sponsorship of the New York Lottery MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year program," Richard J. Ensor, commissioner of the MAAC, said. "These athletes represent what is best about college athletics, excellence on the playing fields and in the classroom."
Bennett, a 6-1 senior from Salt Lake City, UT, became on the fourth student-athlete in Marist history to earn Academic All-America honors, earning a spot on the Verizon All-America Second Team this season. He was also a CoSIDA Academic All-Region District I First Team selection. Bennett finished his final year on the Red Fox men's basketball team second in scoring and assists with 13.0 points and 3.4 assists per game. He was ranked nationally with a 90.0 free throw percentage, helping Marist to a top five national ranking in that category. He tallied the fifth highest single game scoring effort in Marist history, and eighth best in league history, with 42 points against Saint Peter's at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Serving as team captain for the 2002-03 season, Bennett was named the All-MAAC Third Team during his senior campaign. He helped Marist to 32 wins and a share of the 2002 MAAC regular season title in his two-year career with the Red Foxes. A member of the 2003 MAAC All-Academic Team, Bennett graduated with a 3.995 grade point average in business.
"We are very proud of David and his accomplishments as a student-athlete at Marist College," Tim Murray, Director of Athletics at Marist, said. "Marist Athletics takes great pride in challenging our student-athletes to be high achievers on the playing fields as well as in the classroom."
Matijevic, a 6-2 junior from Niagara Falls, Ontario, finished the 2003 season with a 32-1 record at number one singles and now owns a 78-6 record over her three season with the Purple Eagles. Named the 2003 MAAC Most Outstanding Female Player, she led Niagara to its first women's tennis title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Matijevic was tied at 5-5 with Arizona's top player, who was ranked fifth in the country, when the NCAA first round match ended. She won the Eastern Collegiate at West Point without losing a set. She also won the consolation final of the same tournament as a sophomore. Matijevic defeated ranked opponents from West Virginia, Fordham, Yale and Massachusetts this season. She has 126 combined singles and doubles wins in her career. A two-time member of the MAAC All-Academic Team and Verizon Women's At-Large All District selection, Matijevic has a 3.96 GPA in mathematics.
"Milena is the consummate student-athlete, excelling in both the classroom and on the court," Mike Hermann, Director of Athletics at Niagara, said. "It has been exciting to track her success athletically and academically since she arrived on campus. With her leadership and strong play, the women's tennis program has made remarkable progress and brought outstanding recognition to the university. Not only did her team win the MAAC Championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament, the squad had the best GPA of any Niagara team in both the fall and spring semesters, including an amazing 3.875 last fall. We are certainly proud of Milena and appreciate this recognition by the MAAC."