Marist's Yarde Named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year
MAAC Sports
Springfield, Mass. - Marist College senior guard Corielle Yarde has been named the 2011-2012 MAAC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches.
Yarde is joined on the first team by Loyola University Maryland senior guard Miriam McKenzie and junior guard Katie Sheahin, Fairfield University senior forward Taryn Johnson and Iona College senior guard/forward Kristina Ford.
Yarde was named to the All-MAAC First Team and All-Academic Team last season. She was the Red Foxes' second leading scorer, averaging 11.8 points per game, good for 10th in conference. Yarde also ranked third in the league in field goal percentage (43 percent) and eighth in assists (2.6 per game). She was Marist's top rebounder last season, finishing tied for 15th overall in the MAAC averaging 5.6 per game.
McKenzie is an All-MAAC First Team selection for her third season in a row. She ranked second in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 14.0 points per contest. McKenzie also ranked fifth in the conference in rebounding (7.4 per game) and field goal percentage (40 percent). She was also 12th in free throw percentage (72 percent) and 11th in steals (1.5 per game).
Sheahin, the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-MAAC Second Team choice last season, led the league and was second in the nation in steals, averaging 3.5 per game. She was an offensive threat as well, finishing sixth in the MAAC in scoring (13.1 per game) and field goal percentage (39 percent). Sheahin also dished out 3.9 as¬sists per game (second in the MAAC) and pulled down 6.0 boards a contest for the Greyhounds (12th).
Johnson, an All-MAAC First Team selection last season, was the Stags' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 12.8 points per game (seventh in the MAAC) and 8.1 boards per game (third). She was also a stout defensive player, finishing first in the conference in blocked shots (1.8) and fourth in steals (2.2).
Ford was an All-MAAC Third Team pick last season, finishing ninth in the MAAC in scoring, netting 12.0 points a night for the Gaels. She finished eighth in rebounding last season, pulling down 6.2 boards per game. Ford also had a 35 percent field goal percentage, good for 11th in the MAAC.
The preseason second and third teams are listed below.
2011-2012 Preseason All-MAAC Teams
First Team
Corielle Yarde, Marist Sr. G 5-8 Reading, Pa.
Miriam McKenzie, Loyola Sr. G 5-10 Columbia, Md.
Katie Sheahin, Loyola Jr. G 5-10 Brookville, Md.
Taryn Johnson, Fairfield Sr. F 5-11 Brockton, Mass.
Kristina Ford, Iona Sr. F 6-1 Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Second Team
Katelyn Linney, Fairfield Jr. G 5-8 Freehold, N.J.
Brandy Gang, Marist Sr. F 6-2 Hartville, Ohio
Lindsey Loutsenhizer, Manhattan Sr. F 6-0 North Huntington, Pa.
Cristina Centeno, Siena Sr. G 5-9 Belleville, N.J.
Jamie Ruttle, Canisius So. F 6-3 Burlington, Ontario
Third Team
Desiree Pina, Fairfield Sr. G 5-6 Plainville, Conn.
Jynae Judson, Saint Peter's Sr. 5 5-9 Newark, N.J.
Maja Gerlyng, Siena Sr. G 5-11 Horsholm,Denmark
Monica Roeder, Manhattan So. G/F 6-0 Marlton, N.J.
Kayla Stroman, Niagara So. G 5-5 Syracuse, N.Y.
2011-2012 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year:
Corielle Yarde, Marist