WBB's James, Young Honored by NECC
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – A pair of Mitchell College women's basketball players were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) on Monday, as announced by Commissioner Del Malloy.
Freshman guard Sheanna James earned one of five spots on the NECC All-Conference Second Team, and senior guard Bianca Young was selected NECC All-Conference Honorable Mention. Voting for the all-conference teams was conducted among all NECC women's basketball head coaches.
James led the Mariners and ranked second in the NECC in scoring at 17.5 points per game. She also led the league with 58 steals and ranked ninth with 60 assists in conference play. James scored in double figures in 17 of 18 NECC contests and scored 20 or more points eight times.
"Sheanna had a very productive freshman season and showed a lot of skill for a rookie," said head coach Bernadette Macca. "She can definitely score the ball, and as the season progressed and she settled into our offensive schemes, she made our team better with her passing and defense. If she keeps working hard she can be one of the top players in our conference for the next three years."
James appeared in all 25 games and made 24 starts while leading the team in scoring, assists and steals. She scored in double figures in 24 games and posted three double-doubles on the season.
Young wrapped up her four-year stint at Mitchell by averaging career highs of 10.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. She started and played in all 25 games and led the team in rebounding, and her nine double-doubles were more than the rest of her teammates combined. In NECC play she averaged 10.0 boards per game and ranked eighth in the conference in rebounding.
"Bianca had very good senior season and was the heart and soul of our team," said Macca. "She was a workhorse in the paint and did a great job of leading a young team. She's one of the most passionate and intense players I've ever coached."
Young, a team captain, was a four-year starter at Mitchell who played in 98 games and finished with career totals of 826 points and 669 rebounds. More importantly, she helped the Mariners to four straight NECC postseason appearances.
Mitchell finished the season with an overall record of 8-17 (7-11 NECC).
2011-12 NECC Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alycia Gervais, Daniel Webster (Sr, F - Windham, Conn.)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Denisha Parks, Elms (Fr, F - Fall River, Mass.)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Laura Habacker, Elms
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Wheelock College
FIRST TEAM
Alycia Gervais, Daniel Webster (Sr, F - Windham, Conn.)
Erika Murphy, Elms (Sr, F - Torrington, Conn.)
Catherine O'Connell, Newbury (Jr, C - Quincy, Mass.)
Denisha Parks, Elms (Fr, F - Fall River, Mass.)
Claire Ramonas, Regis (So, F - Portland, Maine)
SECOND TEAM
Joa Claircius, Southern Vt. (Sr, G - Clermont, FL)
Stephanie Crawford, Regis (Sr, G - Rockland, Mass.)
Sheanna James, Mitchell (Fr, G - Waterbury, Conn.)
Sarah Paternostro, Daniel Webster (Sr, G - Glastonbury, Conn.)
Kayla Skiffington, Bay Path (So, F - East Longmeadow, MA)
HONORABLE MENTION
Emilee Marro, Regis (Fr, G - Bedford, N.H.)
Keneisha Milton, Wheelock (Jr, G/F - Boston, MA)
Tatiana Mojica, Becker (So, C - Worcester, Mass.)
Carolyn Talmadge, Elms (Sr, G - Wilbraham, Mass.)
Bianca Young, Mitchell (Sr, G - Bridgeport, Conn.)