March 3, 2009

NEWMAC Announces 2008-09 Women’s Basketball Post-Season Award Winners

BABSON PARK, Mass. - The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced its 2008-09 women's basketball award winners on Tuesday, NEWMAC Tournament champion, Babson, earned two First Team All-Conference selections, including the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, Nicole Wurdeman (Rowley, Mass.). Springfield senior Corey Finch (Hanover, Pa.) was named the NEWMAC Player of the Year. Wurdeman's coach, Judy Blinstrub, was honored as the NEWMAC Coach of the Year. Mount Holyoke College received the league's Sportsmanship Award.

Wurdeman was joined on the First Team by fellow first-year teammate Kathleen King (Framingham, Mass.). Melissa Martinelli (Vero Beach, Fla.) of Coast Guard, the league's leading scorer, Krystin Hickey (Manchester, N.H.) from Wheaton and WPI junior Serena Dubois (Bangor, Maine) were also First-Team selections. A pair of Dubois' teammates, Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, Maine) and Elle Fontaine (Franklin, Mass.), earned Second-Team accolades. Sarah Roderigue (Oakland, Maine) of Clark, Mount Holyoke's Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass.) and Wellesley senior Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) rounded out the Second Team.

2008-09 NEWMAC Women's Basketball Awards

Player of the Year
Corey Finch, Springfield

Rookie of the Year
Nicole Wurdeman, Babson

Coach of the Year
Judy Blinstrub, Babson

Sportsmanship Award
Mount Holyoke College

First Team All-Conference
Corey Finch, Springfield
Kathleen King, Babson
Nicole Wurdeman, Babson
Melissa Martinelli, Coast Guard
Krystin Hickey, Wheaton
Serena Dubois, WPI

Second Team All-Conference
Sarah Roderigue, Clark
Erin Cain, Mount Holyoke
Jessica Duff, Wellesley
Natasha Deschene, WPI
Elle Fontaine, WPI