Top Five Women's Basketball Players Named to Preseason All-MAAC First Team
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - The MAAC has named the five players that were selected to the 2013-14 MAAC Women's Basketball Preseason First Team, as chosen by the league's 11 women’s basketball head coaches.
The Preseason First Team includes Fairfield University senior forward Katie Cizynski, Iona College sophomore forward Joy Adams and junior guard Damika Martinez, Marist College senior guard Casey Dulin, and Rider University senior guard/forward MyNeshia McKenzie.
Katie Cizynski averaged 8.4 rebounds, good for 5th in the MAAC and 11.9 points per game, placing her 11th in the league in 2012-13. The Southbury, Conn. native led the Stags and ranked 4th in the MAAC with a .486 field goal percentage last year sinking 154 of 317 shots. Cizynski was an All-MAAC Second Team selection in 2012-13 and enters her senior season as the top rebounder on a Fairfield team that ranks at the top of the league in the category.
Joy Adams of Orlando, Fla. posted a league and Iona best of 17 double-doubles which also led all Division I freshman in 2012-13. She led the MAAC in rebounding, grabbing 10.7 boards per contest and in field goal percentage, making 49.5% of her shots. The sophomore forward earned a list of awards as a freshman which include; 2012-13 MAAC Rookie of the Year, ECAC Rookie of the Year, All-MAAC Second Team, and All-MAAC Tournament Team honors in route to the 2012-13 MAAC title game.
The 2012-13 Pepsi Max MAAC Player of the Year, Damika Martinez is coming off of an Iona College record setting season. The 5-7 junior guard finished 8th in the country in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 42.2% from behind the arc last year. Leading the Gaels to a MAAC Championship title game appearance, Martinez led the league in scoring averaging 18.1 points per game and in three-pointers made netting 79 threes on the season. Along with being named Player of the Year, the Meriden, Conn. native was also selected to the All-MAAC First Team, All-MAAC Tournament Team, and All-Met First Team.
2012-13 All-MAAC Second Team and All-MAAC Tournament Team member Casey Dulin helped lead Marist to its eighth straight MAAC title last season. The Milford, Conn. native led the Red Foxes in assists, dishing out 106 which ranked 6th in the MAAC in 2012-13. Dulin finished 2nd on her team scoring 10.2 points per game and tied for 3rd with 4.2 rebounds per contest last season. The captain senior guard will lead the Marist backcourt in 2014.
MyNeshia McKenzie finished last season ranked 2nd in the league in rebounding, grabbing 9.8 per game and 4th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game. The senior guard/forward led the Broncs and ranked 8th in the MAAC in steals with 1.9 per contest. A native of Springfield, Pa., McKenzie was an All-MAAC First Team honoree last season after leading Rider to 15 wins, its fifth most wins in a season in its 74 year program history.
The MAAC will announce the 2013-14 Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year on Wednesday, October 16. One of these five candidates will earn the distinguished honor. Remember to join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #MAACHoops.
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Preseason All-MAAC First Team
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Katie Cizynski, Fairfield, Sr., Forward, 6-2, Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug
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Joy Adams, Iona, So., Forward, 5-11, Orlando, FL/Evans
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Damika Martinez, Iona, Jr., Guard, 5-7, Meriden, Conn./Orville H. Platt
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Casey Dulin, Marist, Sr., Guard, 5-10, Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law
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MyNeshia McKenzie, Rider, Sr., Guard/Forward, 6-0, Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)
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