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Cornwell named RACA Player of the Year
March 6, 2002
GENEVA, N.Y. –William Smith College senior Leah Cornwell (Wheatland-Chili/Scottsville, N.Y.) is the Rochester Area College Athletics Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. The Heron center also earned a spot on the RACA first-team along with William Smith junior forward Laura Hadwin (Vestal/Vestal, N.Y.).
Cornwell was William Smith’s second leading scorer this season with 15.6 ppg. She led the Herons in rebounding (8.4 rpg), blocked shots (28), and was second in shooting percentage (.427). During the regular season the senior was second in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring and fourth in rebounding and blocked shots. On Jan. 25, Cornwell became just the 10th Heron to score 1,000 points while leading William Smith to an upset of 18th-ranked St. Lawrence. The center finished her career in ninth place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,192 points.
Cornwell was also named to her third consecutive All-UCAA first-team and second straight UCAA All-Tournament team. She earned three UCAA Forward of the Week awards and one ECAC Upstate Player of the Week honor this season. Cornwell is making her second straight appearance on the RACA first-team.
Hadwin led William Smith in scoring (15.9 ppg), shooting percentage (.523), steals (49), and was second in rebounding (7.4 rpg) this season. During the regular season the junior ranked second in the league in shooting percentage, free throw shooting, and third in scoring. On Feb. 22, Hadwin scored a career-high 34 points to lead the third-seeded Herons past second-seeded Rensselaer in the UCAA semifinals.
Like Cornwell, Hadwin is an All-UCAA first-team selection, a three-time UCAA Forward of the Week, and a member of the UCAA All-Tournament team this season. She is making her first appearance on the RACA first-team.
William Smith finished the season with a 17-10 record, including a 9-5 league mark. The Herons advanced to the championship game of the UCAA Tournament with an 81-75 victory over Rensselaer and earned a berth in the ECAC Upstate Regional Tournament.