NEW YORK --- Erica Allenspach of Marist was named 2010-11 All-Met Division I women’s college basketball player of the year Friday by the National Invitation Tournament and Met Basketball Writers Assn.
Brian Giorgis of Marist was selected winner of the Maggie Dixon coach of the year award for the third time.
Joining Allenspach on the All-Met first team: Shante Evans, Hofstra; Da’Shena Stevens, St. John’s;
Abby Wentworth, Manhattan; April Sykes, Rutgers; Ashley Palmer, LIU.
Named to the All-Met second team: Erin Anthony, Army; Khadijah Rushdan, Rutgers; Shenneika Smith, St. John’s;
Corielle Yarde, Marist; Taryn Johnson, Fairfield.
A senior guard from Miamisburg, Ohio, Allenspach averaged 13.8 ppg, fourth best in the MAAC, and had 101 assists and 60 steals. She led the MAAC in field goal percentage (50.2%) and free throw percentage (83.8%), and was second in the conference in 3-point shooting percentage (41.4%).
Allenspach was MVP of the MAAC tournament, when she scored 71 points in three games.
Giorgis, who was also named All-Met coach of the year in 2004 and 2009, guided the Red Foxes (31-3) to an undefeated (18-0) MAAC regular season title and their seventh appearance in the NCAA tournament. Marist defeated Iowa State in the first round before losing to Duke in the second round.
Marist, which won the TD Bank Classic at Vermont and the Duel in the Desert at UNLV, led the conference in scoring offense (67.1 ppg) and was No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (49.7 points) and low turnovers.
In nine seasons at the helm, Giorgis’ coaching record is 225-60, a .776 winning percentage.
The All-Met players and coaches will be honored Tuesday evening, April 26, at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, N.Y.