NEWBA Announces Award Winners For 2010-11 Season

Judy Blinstrub
Babson College

 For the second season in a row, Babson College head coach Judy Blinstrub has been named NEWBA Coach of the Year. Under Blinstrub's direction, the Beavers advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sectional Finals before falling 68-47 to eventual national champion Amherst College. Making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in as many years and its sixth overall, Babson started its magical run with a 78-58 win over Medaille College in the First Round. After picking up a 65-53 triumph over SUNY Geneseo in the Second Round, the Beavers held on for a 61-58 victory over Bowdoin College in the Sectional Semifinals. They closed out the season with an overall mark of 30-1.

Blinstrub was named NEWMAC Coach of the Year for the third year in a row after leading Babson to its third straight Conference Championship. The Beavers outscored their opponents by an average of 30.1 points per game en route to posting a perfect 18-0 mark in league play. Prior to their loss at Amherst, they were the only remaining undefeated team in all of women's college basketball.

Over her 27 seasons at the helm of Babson's women's basketball program, Blinstrub has compiled an overall record of 474-254 (.651). In addition to her duties as women's basketball coach, she also serves as the College's Associate Director of Athletics and helped its women's soccer program to regional prominence before stepping down prior to the 2005 season. Blinstrub is the only coach in the history of Division III women's sports with 400 wins in basketball and 200 wins in soccer.

On the hardwood, her teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in both 1993 and 1994 in addition their appearances in the Elite Eight in each of the last two seasons. Blinstrub also took Babson to the NCAA Tournament in 1999 and 2009. The Beavers won the 1986 MAIAW State Championship and captured Conference titles in 1991, 1993, 1999, 2009 and 2010 prior to this season. They have appeared in the ECAC Tournament eight times, including a trip in 2005. Prior to this winter's accolades, Blinstrub was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1990, 1993, 2005, 2009 and 2010. She took home Converse District I and New England Coach of the Year honors following the 1993 season.

A native of Newton, Mass., Blinstrub joined the Babson staff in 1984 after serving as coach and Athletics Director at Mount Alvernia and Brimmer and May School in Newton. She graduated from Bridgewater State University and is a member of its Athletics Hall of Fame.

Melissa Teel
Western Connecticut State University
Senior • Center • Hamden, Conn.

Western Connecticut State University senior Melissa Teel has been named NEWBA Player of the Year for the second straight season. The center piled up 18.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game while starting all 28 contests for the Colonials. One of the most feared defenders in the nation, her 4.3 blocked shots per outing were the second most in all of Division III. Teel finished her senior campaign with 121 swats after turning away a program record 141 shots as a junor. She was also incredibly efficient on the offensive end of the floor, where she converted 60.5% (211-349) of her shots from the floor.

Teel racked up an eye popping 17 double-doubles en route to earning LEC Player of the Year honors for the second season in a row. She also recorded her first career triple double on 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks in her team's 58-50 triumph over Eastern Connecticut State University on January 25.

One month later, Teel cemented her second consecutive LEC Tournament Most Outstanding Player award with another dominant performance against Eastern Connectcut State. With the league championship on the line, she exploded for a program record 39 points to lead her team to a resounding 74-58 victory. In addition to grabbing their second straight LEC title, the Colonials punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row.

Teel propelled Western Connecticut State to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, where it fell 82-64 to Kean University. It was the Colonials' 13th all-time appearance in the big dance. They closed out the year with an overall record of 24-4.

Over the course of the season, Teel was named NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week twice. The LEC Defensive Player of the Year finished her outstanding career with 367 blocked shots. Her 1,052 career rebounds are good for tops in program history, and she also netted 1,184 career points to become the first player (female or male) to surpass 1,000 in both categories.

Teel holds Western Connecticut State records for rebounds in a game (25) and blocks in a game (10). The center was recently named to the LEC's 25th Anniversary Team. With her presence in the low blocks, the Colonials limited their opposition to 51.4 points per game.

Rosa Drummond
Smith College
First Year • Center • Rye, N.H.

Smith College first year Rosa Drummond has been named 2010-11 NEWBA Rookie of the Year. The forward lifted the Pioneers to an appearance in the NEWMAC Championship for the first time since the 1997-98 season. In addition to becoming the first player in program history to earn the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year award, she was also named to the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team.

Drummond was a force throughout her rookie season, recording team highs of 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. She started in all but one of Smith's 21 games, logging 28.6 minutes played per outing. The forward converted 40.8% (126-309) of her shots from the field and 85.5% (65-76) of her free throw attempts. She also drained a squad best 33 shots from beyond the arc. Her 26 blocked shots were good for tops on the team.

Drummond was remarkably consistent during her first collegiate campaign. The forward reached double digits in the scoring column 19 times, tallying 20 or more points on four occasions. She was at her best against Elms College on November 23, when she poured in a career best 24 points to help the Pioneers to an 85-46 triumph. With her 10 rebounds in the contest, she completed her first of three double-doubles.

With Drummond leading the way, Smith qualified for the ECAC Tournament, where it faced off against the University of New England in the Quarterfinal Round. Though she posted 22 points in the game, the Pioneers fell by a score of 64-54. They finished the season with an overall record of 17-11.

Drummond was named NEWMAC Player of the Week and NEWBA Rookie of the Week on January 10.

• Nicole Wurdeman, Babson College (Jr, F, Rowley, Mass.) - Wurdeman was named NEWMAC Player of the Year for the second straight season after leading Babson College back to the NCAA Tournament Sectional Finals. She registered 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the Beavers, who won their first 30 games before falling to eventual national champion Amherst College in the Elite Eight. The forward posted eight double-doubles and converted 50.7% (223-440) of her shots from the field. She was named Co-Most Outstanding Player of the NEWMAC Tournament and was placed on the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team for the third year in a row.
• Jen Wehner, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (Jr, F, Cooperstown, N.Y.) - Wehner was selected as MASCAC Player of the Year after piling up 17.7 points and 14.3 rebounds per game. In addition to posting double-doubles in 23 of her team's 27 contests, the forward finished four games with at least 20 points and 20 boards. Over the course of the season, she netted 57.5% (184-320) and came up with 83 blocked shots. With Wehner leading the way, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts qualified for the ECAC Tournament. She will enter her senior season with 1,166 career points.
• Melissa Teel, Western Connecticut State University (Sr, C, Hamden, Conn.) - For the second straight season, Teel was named LEC Player of the Year and NEWBA Player of the Year. The center racked up 18.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game while amassing 4.3 rejections per outing. After pushing Western Connecticut State University to the LEC Championship for the second year in a row, she helped her team back to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Over the course of the season, Teel registered an eye popping 17 double-doubles and knocked down 60.5% (211-349) of her shots from the floor.
• Kathleen King, Babson College (Jr, F, Framingham, Mass..) - Due in large part to King's outstanding play, Babson College made a return trip the NCAA Tournament Sectional Finals. The forward recorded 15.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for the Beavers, who won their frst 30 games before falling to eventual national champion Amherst College in the Elite Eight. The forward was voted to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team for third straight season and also earned NEWMAC Tournament Co-Most Outstanding Player honors. She finished the year with 14 double-doubles.
• Jules Kowalski, Colby College (Sr, F, Montville, N.J.) - Kowalski was named to the NESCAC All-Conference First Team after tallying 12.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per outing. She knocked down 52.0% (132-254) of her shots from the floor and 77.5% (68-89) of her free throw attempts. The forward pushed Colby College to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. Kowalski started all 28 games for the Mules and finished her career with 1,059 points and 749 rebounds. She earned the NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week Award on February 7.

• Christine Daniels, Norwich University (Sr, F, Concord, N.H.) - Daniels earned GNAC Player of the Year honors after an outstanding senior season for Norwich University. The double-double machine averaged 17.1 points and 14.6 rebounds per game while also dishing out 58 assists. She recorded double-doubles in all 26 of her team's games this season, leading the nation in the category. Over the course of her career, Daniels amassed 1,149 points and 946 career rebounds.
• Courtney Cochran, University of Southern Maine (Jr, F, Waite, Maine) - Cochran averaged a double-double on 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. The forward led the University of Southern Maine to the ECAC Tournament Championship. She was named to the LEC All-Conference First Team after racking up 16 double-doubles. Cochran scored 20 points or more six times and had at least 10 rebounds on 18 occasions.  
• Stephanie Coro, Rhode Island College (Jr, G, Providence, R.I.) - Coro drained 63 three-pointers en route to scoring 18.4 points per game for Rhode Island College. The guard converted 40.3% (173-429) of her shots from the field. She was named to the LEC All-Conference First Team and will enter her final collegiate season with 1,198 career points. Coro earned the LEC Player of the Week award twice and the NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week award once.
• Sarah Collins, Babson College (So, C, Weymouth, Mass.) - Collins joined Nicole Wurdeman and Kathleen King to form one of the most feared frontcourts in the nation. She was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team after collecting 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. The center contributed eight double-doubles while also piling up 89 blocked shots. She helped Babson College back to the NCAA Tournament Sectional Finals and a 30-0 start to its season.
• Ashley Wright, Endicott College (Sr, G, Merrimack, N.H.) - Wright was selected as the TCCC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was also placed on the TCCC All-Conference First Team. She netted 83 shots from beyond the arc en route to a points per game average of 18.3. The guard closed out her career with 1,259 points. This season, she led Endicott Colllege to the Semifinal Round of the ECAC Tournament. She contributed 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per outing.