NEWBA Announces Award Winners For 2011-12 Season

Marcus Reilly
Rhode Island College

Marcus Reilly has been named NEWBA Coach of the Year after leading Rhode Island College to its most successful season in program history. Under Reilly's direction, the Anchorwomen posted an overall record of 25-4 and advanced the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 27 years. They opened up postseason play with a 69-54 triumph over Baruch College before falling 57-52 to Emmanuel College in the second round.

Reilly's squad established new school records for wins (25) and winning percentage (.862) while posting a 13-1 mark in league play. After securing their first ever Little East Conference Regular Season Championship, they went on to take the Tournament title with a 50-44 victory over the University of Southern Maine. For his efforts, Reilly earned Little East Conference Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career.

Reilly has enjoyed unprecedented success at Rhode Island College. In just four seasons, he has compiled an overall record of 71-37 (.657) while transforming the Anchorwomen into one of the top teams in the region.

Prior to joining the Rhode Island College staff, Reilly guided the Community College of Rhode Island to two straight Elite Eight appearances and a 45-19 record from 2006-08. During his tenure, the program was consistently ranked in the top 25 in the nation, and his recruiting classes produced three NJCAA All-Americans. In 2006-07, Reilly was named the Female Sports Co-Coach of the Year by Words Unlimited.

From 2003-06, Reilly served as First Assistant and Recruiting Coordinator for Jacksonville State University. He joined the Gamecocks after his first stint as Head Coach at the Community College of Rhode Island from 2001-03. Before joining the college ranks, he coached Cranston High School West from 1999-01.

Reilly enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Trinity College, where he played from 1995-99.

He resides in Cranston, R.I. with his wife Lindsey and their sons Owen (5) and Jackson (2).

Nicki Wurdeman 
Babson College
Senior • Forward • Rowley, Mass.

Senior Nicki Wurdeman has earned the NEWBA Player of the Year Award after leading Babson College to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The forward piled up 18.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while starting all 29 contests for the Beavers. Over the course of the season, she converted 49.8% (199-400) of her shots from the field and 64.2% (111-173) of her free throws. She also chipped in with 60 assists, 55 blocked shots and 47 steals.

Wurdeman racked up 16 double-doubles en route to earning NEWMAC Player of the Year honors for the third season in a row. She reached double digits in the scoring column 27 times, netting 20 points or more 11 times. The forward exploded for a career-best 32 points in a 76-43 win over Wellesley College on February 1.

With her 24 points in a 65-59 victory over Colby College on February 14, Wurdeman became Babson's all-time leading scorer. She then collected her 1,000th career rebound in a 68-59 victory over Bridgewater State University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 2. Wurdeman concluded her brilliant career with 2,042 points and 1,017 boards.

Following her lead, Babson went 26-3 this winter and captured its fourth straight NEWMAC Championship. The Beavers' run came to a close in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell 61-48 to Amherst College on March 3. They were ousted in the Elite 8 by the Lord Jeffs in both 2010 and 2011.

In Wurdeman's four seasons, Babson posted an impressive 104-17 overall record and went 74-3 versus NEWMAC opponents. The Beavers will enter the 2012-13 riding a 65-game winning streak against league foes.

Wurdeman earned NEWBA Rookie of the Year honors at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season.

Denisha Parks
Elms College
First Year • Forward • Fall River, Mass.

First year Denisha Parks has earned the NEWBA Rookie of the Year Award after leading Elms College to its best season in program history. The forward lifted the Blazers to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament with her outstanding play in the post. In addition to averaging a double-double on 19.0 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, she knocked down 50.4% (206-409) of her shots from the floor and 72.6% (124-171) of her free throws. Parks was named NECC Rookie of the Year and was also placed on the league's All-Conference First Team.

Parks was remarkably consistent during her first collegiate campaign, reaching double digits in the scoring column 26 times and tallying 20 or more points on 16 occasions. She finished the season with a program record 551 points.

The forward was at her best in her team's 78-65 victory over Newbury College in the NECC Semifinals on February 24, when she erupted for 27 points and 27 rebounds. Elms proceeded to secure its first NECC Championship with a thrilling 66-64 triumph over Daniel Webster College the following afternoon.

Parks went on to record her 19th double-double of the season in her team's 84-37 setback to Ithaca College in the opening round of NCAA Tournament. The Blazers closed out the year with an overall record of 20-9. It was their most wins in school history.

During the regular season, Parks piled up a career-high 34 points to go with 14 boards in 65-27 triumph over Lesley University on February 28.

The forward was named NEWBA Rookie of the Week five times this season.

• Nicki Wurdeman, Babson College (Sr, F, Rowley, Mass.) - Wurdeman was named NEWBA Player of the Year after leading the Beavers to their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The forward piled up 18.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while converting 49.8% (199-400) of her shots from the floor. She also chipped in with 60 assists, 55 blocked shots and 47 steals. Wurdeman racked up 16 double-doubles, reached double digits in the scoring column 27 times and netted 20 points or more on 11 occasions. The senior concluded her brilliant career with 2,042 points and 1,017 boards. She earned NEWMAC Player of the Year honors for the third year in a row.
• Jill Henrikson, Bowdoin College (Sr, G, Bath, Maine) - Henrikson was placed on the NESCAC All-Conference First Team after leading the league with 16.7 points per game. She converted 45.7% (132-289) of her shots from the field and 86.2% (168-195) of her free throws. The guard also pulled down 6.6 rebounds per outing, dished out 71 assists and amassed 78 steals. With Henrikson leading the way, the Polar Bears advanced to third round of the NCAA Tournament before falling 71-55 to George Fox University. In just three seasons, she piled up 1,085 career points and will graduate as Bowdoin's all-time leader in free throw percentage (.832).
• Courtney Cochran, University of Southern Maine (Sr, C, Waite, Maine) - Cochran captured LEC Player of the Year honors after leading the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament with her outstanding play in the post. Over the course of the season, the center averaged a double-double on 18.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while knocking down 47.6% (172-361) of her shots from the field and 80.5% (140-174). With her 15 double-doubles this year, she ran her career totals to 1,075 points and 764 rebounds. 
• Kathleen King, Babson College (Sr, F, Framingham, Mass.) - The Beavers captured their fourth straight NEWMAC Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament due in large part to King's outstanding all-around play. The forward recorded 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while dishing out a team-best 3.5 assists per outing. She recorded 15 double-doubles and was voted to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team for the fourth year in a row. King wrapped up her career with 1,783 points and 1,107 rebounds.
• Sarah Collins, Babson College (So, C, Weymouth, Mass.) - Collins joined Nicki Wurdeman and Kathleen King to form one of the most feared frontcourts in the nation. In addition to collecting 16.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, the NEWMAC All-Conference First Teamer piled up 86 blocked shots and converted 57.4% (193-343) of her shots from the field. She earned NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after leading the Beavers to their fourth straight NEWMAC Championship and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. The center finished her junior campaign with 17 double-doubles and earned NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week honors twice.
  

• Jen Wehner, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (Sr, F, Cooperstown, N.Y.) - Wehner was named to the MASCAC All-Conference First Team after piling up 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Over the course of the season, the forward netted 54.8% (165-301) of her shots from the floor and came up with 76 blocked shots. Her dominance in the post resulted in 16 double-doubles. Wehner will graduate as the Trailblazers' all-time leader in points (1,606) and rebounds (1,213). She earned the NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week Award on February 13.
• Rachael Mack, Colby College (Sr, F, Augusta, Maine) - Mack averaged 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while knocking down 49.6% (132-266) of her shots from the field and 77.4% (38-43) of her free throws. The forward was named to the NESCAC All-Conference First Team after leading the Mules to 78 wins over the past four years. She wrapped up her career with 1,241 points and 802 rebounds.  
• Rachel Riley, Rhode Island College (Sr, F, Coventry, R.I.) - Riley enjoyed a stellar season for the Anchorwomen, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 27 years. The forward was named to the LEC All-Conference First Team after posting 13.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. In addition to converting 51.8% (171-330) of her shots from the field and 72.1% (49-68) of her free throws, she recorded 38 blocked shots. Riley finished her career with 1,263 points and 1,043 boards.
• Kelley Paradis, University of New England (Sr, G, Newport, Maine) - Paradis was named CCC Player of the Year after leading the Nor'easters to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. The guard poured in 13.2 points per game while knocking down 43 shots from beyond the arc. She scored 20 or more points on six occasions and also chipped in with 5.5 rebounds per game, 74 assists, 91 steals and 36 blocked shots. Paradis earned CCC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior.
• Cynthia Guadet, Rhode Island College (Sr, G, Coventry, R.I.) - Gaudet helped the Anchorwomen advance to the NCAA Tournament with her outstanding all-around play. In addition to pacing her team's offensive attack with 15.9 points per game and 119 assists, she also set the tone defensively with 97 steals. The guard drained 43 shots from beyond the arc and converted 79.6% (125-157) of her free throws. Gaudet was named LEC Defensive Player of the Year and was also placed on the league's All-Conference First Team.