Brandon Vanenburg
Thursday it was announced that five members of the women’s basketball team have earned awards following a great season for the Great Danes where they finished 3rd in the conference with a record of 21-9
After missing all of last season due to injury Morgan Haney earned America East Sixth Player of the Year. Appearing in all 29 games of the regular season, Haney was the offensive spark and primary playmaker off the bench for the Great Danes, scoring 178 points which was third on the team and led the conference off the bench. Her passing was vital to the team’s success as she had 64 assists to finish second on the team. Defensively Haney’s active hands led to 37 steals on the season which was 10th in the America East.
Helene Haegerstrand stepped up her game this season and she went from the Third Team All-American East last season to the First Team in this one. Haegerstrand was sith in the conference in scoring with her team-leading 12.3 points per game. The star forward from Stockholm, Sweden was a sniper for the Great Danes, hitting 1.8 three-point baskets per game which was eighth in the conference, shooting at a .378 percent clip. She was a constant presence for the team, and throughout all the adversity the Great Danes went through she was the only person all season to start all 29 games of the season.
Sophomore guard Kayla Cooper had a breakout season and was named to the All-American East Second Team. Cooper averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 7 rebounds per game, which was also good for fifth in the conference. Cooper started the year on the bench, but following a COVID pause took her place in the starting lineup and by the end of the year she was seeing teams game plan for her specifically. Her progression has been a major component in the Great Danes’ success and will be forward.
Senior forward Lucia Decortes was named to the All-Defensive Team Lucia Decortes as she led the conference in blocks with 1.7 a game. She not only had a huge role on defense but she also was very efficient in the paint, leading all players in field goal percentage at 75 percent Her 5 rebounds per game tied for 11th in the America East.
Point Guard Lilly Phillips made the All-Rookie Team. This comes after the former Cambridge High School standout played shooting guard her whole career and was forced to change positions for a roster that did not have a traditional point. Head Coach Colleen Mullen changed Phillips to point guard for her freshman season and as a result, she led the team with 66 total assists for the season which was eleventh in the entire conference.
The Great Danes women had their best season under Mullen this year and the contributions of these women were recognized as a result. They will look to continue their storybook season in the American East Playoffs, as they host the semifinal game Tuesday night at SEFCU Arena.
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