Vermont's Pilypaitis Named Preseason Mid-Major All-America

Vermont's Pilypaitis Named Preseason Mid-Major All-America

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Courtesy of UVM Athletic Communications

BURLINGTON, Vt. ? University of Vermont junior guard Courtnay Pilypaitis (Ottawa, Ontario) has been named to the Women’s Basketball Magazine Preseason Mid-Major All-America Second Team, which was released in the September/October issue.

Pilypaitis, the reigning America East Player of the Year, was one of 15 players selected by the magazine on the first, second and third teams. Last year, she became just the second player in league history to win America East Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman and garner America East Player of the Year honors as a sophomore.

In 2007-08 she led the Catamounts to a 24-9 record (13-3 America East), the fourth most wins in program history, and a berth to the Postseason WNIT for the second time in school history. The Catamounts defeated Dartmouth in the first round before falling at Boston College in the second round.

Pilypaitis ranked in the league’s top-10 in nine of 10 statistical categories last year. She led Vermont in scoring (16.8 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg), assists (5.45 apg), free throw percentage (83.1%), free throws made (157) and three-point field goals made (68).

Last season, Pilypaitis tied the UVM school record for most points in a game, pouring in 40 in a loss at Boston U. Four games later, she recorded Vermont's first-ever triple-double in women's basketball history in a victory over Hartford, scoring18 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists in the contest.

Pilypaitis enters her junior season 19 points shy of the 1,000-career point milestone. She ranks among the all-time leaders at Vermont in points (17th-981), field goal percentage (18th-48.1%), three-point field goals (6th-125), three-point field goal percentage (5th-38.6%), free throws (7th-238), free throw percentage (6th-.780), and assists (10th-306).

The Catamounts also return senior Amy Rosenkrantz (Tempe, Ariz.) and junior May Kotsopoulos (Waterloo, Ontario) to the court this season. Rosenkrantz was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team last season. Kotsopoulos became the first Catamount to win the America East Defensive Player of the Year honor last year and was also named the America East Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete for the 2007-08 season.

Vermont, which returns 96 percent of its scoring and at least 80 percent of its production in all other statistical categories heading into the 2008-09 season, begins formal practice on Friday (Oct. 17).