Senior forward Amanda Kimball (Arundel, ME), sophomore center Kara Crockett (Glenburn, ME) and freshman guard Meg Cressler (Appleton, ME) of the Huskies women’s basketball team have been honored by the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for their play during the 2000-2001 basketball season.
Crockett and Kimball were named to the M.W.B.C.A. All-State Second Team while Cressler was named to the All-Rookie Team. The awards are the first for each player.
Kimball, a Kennebunk High School graduate, led the Huskies in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game and pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game, third-best on the squad. She notched career highs in points (24), rebounds (13), and assists (7) during the season. She reached double figures in scoring 19 times and in rebounding four times, while registering three “double-doubles”.
The 5-foot-9 forward shot 46 percent from the field, 64 percent from the line, dished out 55 assists and recorded 33 steals in 27 games. She previously was named to the All-Little East Conference first team and the 2001 LEC All-Tournament team. She was an All-LEC second team selection last year.
Crockett, a Bangor High School product, was the Huskies third leading scorer, averaging 11.1 points per game, and finished second in rebounding, grabbing 6.6 boards per game. She recorded 92 blocked shots this season, fourth best in school history, and led the Little East Conference with 3.4 blocked shots per game. She was ranked fifth in the nation in blocked shot average in the latest NCAA Division III statistics.
Twice this season, the 6-foot center blocked nine shots in a single game, one shy of the school record, and has 141 career blocks after two seasons, sixth most in the program’s history. She led the team in field goal percentage (.548), making 121 of 221 shots, made 67 percent of her free throws, scored in double digits 16 times, reached double figures in rebounding four times and notched three “double-doubles”. She also registered single-game career highs in points (19), rebounds (16), and assists (5).
Crockett was twice selected Little East Conference Player of the Week this season, was named to the LEC Honor Roll three times and was chosen as the 2001 LEC tournament’s Most Outstanding Player
Cressler, a graduate of Camden-Rockport High School averaged 9.4 points, fourth on the Huskies scoring list, and 3.4 rebounds. She led the squad in three-point shooting percentage, making 34 of 77 shots from behind the three-point arc (44 percent). She shot 48 percent from the floor overall and 66 percent from the charity stripe. Cressler also handed out 48 assists and had 26 steals in 27 games. She reached double figures in scoring 13 times, including a team-high 14 points in the Huskies’ NCAA first round tournament game at Springfield College.
The 5-foot-8 sharpshooting guard posted single-game highs of 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Cressler was selected as Little East Conference Rookie of the Week once and was also named to the 2001 LEC All-Tournament Team.
Southern Maine finished its season 20-7 overall, extending its NCAA women’s record for winning 20 or more games to 21 consecutive seasons. The Huskies qualified for the NCAA Division III national tournament for the seventh straight season and 15th time in the last 16 years. USM lost to Springfield College, 60-49, in a first-round NCAA game on Feb 28.
courtesy of Sports Information