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Cunningham named Rookie of the Year
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Liberty League Rookie of the Year |
February 22, 2007
GENEVA, N.Y.—Three William Smith College basketball players were among those honored when the Liberty League announced its annual postseason awards today. First-year forward Erin Cunningham (Morris Knolls/Rockaway, N.J.) was tabbed the Rookie of the Year and All-Liberty League second team by the conference’s coaches, while junior guard Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.) earned a spot on the first team and junior forward Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.) received honorable mention.
Cunningham was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Week six times this season and the Forward of the Week once. She ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (.520) and free throw percentage (.826), seventh in scoring (12.8 ppg), and ninth in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and blocked shots (16, 0.7/g). Cunningham reached double digits in scoring 16 times, posting 20 points or more four times. She scored a season-high 24 points in a 68-66 win at Hamilton. Cunningham produced four double-doubles, collecting a season-high 13 rebounds at Skidmore.
A three-time first-team selection and the 2004-05 Liberty League Rookie of the Year, Vespa leads the Liberty League and ranks seventh in the nation in assists (6.1). She also leads the conference in assist-to-turnover (1.8, min 3 apg) and steals (2.8 spg), and ranks eighth in three-point shooting (.365), 10th in three-pointers made (1.05/gm), 11th in field goal percentage (.429), and 13th in scoring (10.5 ppg). Vespa reached double digits in scoring 13 times, recording a season-high 21 at Union that included a 4-of-5 performance from long range. She handed out five or more assists 17 times, including a season-high 11 against Vassar, pulled down a season-high nine boards at RPI, and collected a season-high seven steals at Hartwick. Her 140 assists this season rank fifth on William Smith’s single season list. Already third on the career assists list with 385, Vespa needs four more to tie No. 2 Liz Brown ’00.
A three-time All-Liberty League pick, Czajkowski ranks fourth in the conference and leads the team in scoring (13.4 ppg). She is fifth in the League in field goal percentage (.471) and seventh in rebounding (7.5). Czajkowski reached double digits in scoring seven times, posting a season-high 25 at then third-ranked Rochester. She posted five double-doubles, collecting a season-high 16 rebounds at Keuka. Czajkowski handed out a season-high five assists against Cortland State.
William Smith is 14-10 overall heading into this weekend’s Liberty League Tournament. The fourth-seeded Herons will take on top-seeded St. Lawrence at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23, in Canton. Fans can follow the game online by clicking on the live coverage link on the William Smith schedule page.