BOSTON – Regular-season champion Maine received the majority of America East women’s basketball awards as the conference revealed the 2021-22 award winners Thursday afternoon. All of the All-Conference, All-Defensive, All-Rookie and All-Academic teams were determined in a vote by the league’s head coaches, who could not vote for their own players.
Full Awards Listing
For the second consecutive season, a Maine student-athlete earned both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors as Anne Simon headlined the major winners. UAlbany’s Morgan Haney was named Sixth Player of the Year, Vermont freshman Catherine Gilwee was named Rookie of the Year and Maine’s Amy Vachon earned Coach of the Year honors.
Player of the Year & Defensive Player of the Year
Anne Simon, Jr., G, Maine
- Leads the league in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game.
- Leads the league and ranks 10th in the country with 2.9 steals per game.
- Three double-doubles this season – all with 20+ points.
- Helped lead Maine to 18th regular-season title.
- Fifth student-athlete in league history to be named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, following teammate Blanca Millan.
- Fourth Black Bear to receive Defensive Player of the Year honors.
- Three-time #AEHoops Player of the Week this season.
Sixth Player of the Year
Morgan Haney, So., G, UAlbany
- Averaged 5.9 points and 22.6 minutes per game off the bench.
- Tied for team-lead in steals, averaging 1.3 per contest to lead the second-toughest defense in Division I.
- Come off the bench in all but two conference games.
- Third Great Dane to receive the award and first since Tiana-Jo Carter in 2015-16.
- Haney helped the Great Danes win 20 games and finish second in #AEHoops for the first time since 2017-18.
Rookie of the Year
Catherine Gilwee, Fr., G, Vermont
- Started 21 games in her first collegiate season.
- Averaged 2.7 assists per conference game, ranking 10th overall and first among freshmen.
- Scored career-high 15 points in both games against Stony Brook.
- Rookie of the Week on December 27.
- Second consecutive Catamount to be named Rookie of the Year and fifth overall.
Coach of the Year
Amy Vachon, Maine - 5th season
- Named Coach of the Year a record-tying fourth time.
- Led Maine to 18th regular-season title after being picked second in preseason poll.
- The Black Bears enter the postseason having won twelve consecutive games.
- Vachon joins legendary Maine head coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie as the only four-time Coach of the Year recipients in women's #AEHoops history.
- Fourth Coach of the Year honor for Vachon and her staff of Courtney England, Tom Biskup and Parise Rossignol.
Four juniors headlined the All-Conference First Team and five sophomores were named to All-Conference teams alongside five grad students.
The 2022 All-Academic honorees combine for a 3.79 GPA.
All major award winners and the majority of All-Conference honorees will be in action on Saturday for the #AEPlayoffs quarterfinals. Complete tournament information can be found at americaeast.com/wbbplayoffs.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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