February 23, 2006

NAC Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams Announced

Maine Maritime junior Alyssa Burns was selected as the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in a vote by the league's coaches. During conference action, Burns shot 55% from the floor averaging 18.2 points and 3.3 steals per game for the Mariners who finished the regular season 16-1 in league play.

First team selection Toby Martin of Thomas was honored as the NAC Rookie of the Year. Martin led the league averaging 18.7 points per game during conference play while shooting 41% from behind the 3-point arc. The freshman guard was a part of a Thomas squad that set an NCAA record this season with 299 3-pointers made.

Burns is joined on the first team by junior teammates Michelle Gott and Julia Knights. Gott, the 2003-04 NAC Rookie of the Year, earned first team honors for the second time in her career. The junior guard was third in the league with 17.5 points per game. Knights, the 2002-03 NAC Co-Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year averaged, 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 53% from the field.

Maine-Farmington junior forward Kari Simpson was selected to the all-conference first team for the third consecutive season. Simpson led the Beavers to a 15-2 record in conference play averaging 17.2 points and 8.7 rebounds on the year.

Johnson State head coach Cassie Birkenfeld was honored as NAC Coach of the Year in her first season with the Badgers. Birkenfeld led her squad 9-9 conference mark, 12-13 overall; an eight-win improvement over last season’s 4-21 record.  Maine-Farmington and Wheelock shared the Team Sportsmanship Award. NAC all-conference selections are determined by a vote of the conference coaches. Additional players honored are due to ties in the voting.

2005-06 NAC Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams