KUTZTOWN, PA (March 9, 2010) – The leading scorers for the Kutztown University women's basketball team have earned all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division postseason honors for the second consecutive season.
Junior forward Melissa McQuade was selected to the all-PSAC first team. Meanwhile, senior guard Rachel Wisemiller was a second-team selection.
McQuade and Wisemiller helped Kutztown enjoy another strong season. In leading the Golden Bears to a 19-10 overall record, both players reached the 1,000-point scoring mark. Kutztown hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1998 and advanced to the PSAC semifinals for the first time since 2005. Kutztown also finished second in the PSAC East.
Individually, McQuade was the engine that fueled the Golden Bears this season. She led Kutztown in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (8.2). McQuade finished the season with 1,166 points, which ties her with Patti Blackmon for sixth on the Kutztown all-time scoring list. McQuade scored a season-high 25 points in a thrilling 65-63 victory over Cheyney in which the Golden Bears overcame a 16-point first half deficit.
McQuade scored in double digits 26 times and recorded eight double-doubles. She was named PSAC East player of the week twice. In addition, McQuade also made 50 3-pointers and collected 51 steals.
Wisemiller was the Golden Bears' second leading scorer (10.4 points per game. She finished her brilliant career with 1,013 points. Wisemiller scored her 1,000th career point in the Golden Bears' season-ending defeat to No. 1 Gannon in the PSAC semifinals. Wisemiller also led Kutztown in 3-pointers (61) and blocked shots (52). She also earned PSAC East player of the week recognition on Dec. 14.
Wisemiller also ended her career second on the all-time Kutztown women's basketball 3-point list (174) and fifth in blocked shots (109).
The East first team included only one other repeat selection in addition to McQuade, that being Shippensburg's Lauren Beckley, who was named PSAC East player of the year. Cheyney's Angel Stephens and Bloomsburg's Kelsey Gallagher, both second team picks last year, made the first team this year, as did Shippensburg's Kasey Gardner, a junior who made the West second team as a freshman two years ago. Millersville senior Raquel Green garners her first all-conference selection to round out the first team.
The East second team, which is made up of all seniors, includes four previous all-conference selections, led by West Chester's Janelle Garber, a first team selection last year. Joining her are Millersville's Jenna Craig, Cheyney's Lutfiyya Muhammad and Wisemiller, who were all second team picks last year as well. Millersville's Ashley Moyer and East Stroudsburg's DeAnna Rayam round out the second team as they are all-league picks for the first time in their careers.
Of the West's six first team selections, five are previous all-conference honorees, including the Player of the Year in Gannon's Kristina Freeman. Joining her is teammate Brittany Tabron, a second team selection last year. California's dynamic duo of Brooque Williams and Kayla Smith also dots the first team. It marks the third straight year for both of them on the first team as they teamed up to help lead the Vulcans to the PSAC Tournament championship game for the 10th straight season this year. Smith currently leads the PSAC and Division II in rebounding while Williams, last season's co-West Player of the Year, broke California's school record for career points earlier this year.
Edinboro's Samantha Reimer rejoins the first team for the second time in her career. She was a first team pick two years ago before being a second team selection last year. Reimer led the PSAC in free throw shooting percentage this year and was second in assists, third in assist-turnover ratio and fifth in scoring. Clarion's Lizzie Suwala rounds out the first team after finishing fourth in the PSAC in scoring.
The second team features the other half of Gannon's four total honorees in Carrie Nolan and Tiffany Crocker. Nolan was also a second team selection last year. Edinboro also placed duo in the second team in Kelsey Conklin and Renee' Brown. It marks the third career all-conference honor for Conklin, who was a first team pick last year and a second team pick two years ago, while it marks the first career all-conference selection for Brown, who was the PSAC West Freshman of the Year last year.
Rounding out the squad is Mercyhurst junior Amy Achesinski, who is on the second team for the second straight season, and IUP's Lacey Claar, a junior who earns her first career all-conference recognition.
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