University of Connecticut Athletics
Renee Montgomery Named Winner of BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. (March 4, 2009) – University of Connecticut senior Renee Montgomery (St. Albans, W. Va.) was named as the winner of the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award, which was announced along with other postseason conference honors on Thursday afternoon.
A total of three UConn players were unanimous first team All-BIG EAST selections as Montgomery was joined by sophomore Maya Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and junior Tina Charles (Jamaica, N.Y.).
In addition, Tiffany Hayes (Lakeland, Fla.) was selected to the All-BIG EAST Freshman team, following a rookie campaign that has seen her post double-figure points 15 times this season and earn three BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards.
Montgomery is the first UConn player win the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award and is just the fifth player in Connecticut history to be recognized as a first team All-BIG EAST selection for three consecutive seasons joining Diana Taurasi, Svetlana Abrosimova, Kerry Bascom and Rebecca Lobo.
Moore earned her second straight first-team All-BIG EAST recognition after leading teh team in scoring (18.9 ppg) and rebounds (9.1 rpg). Earlier this season she became the fastest player in UConn history to reach the 1,000-point milestone, taking just 55 games. Her current scoring total this season of 567 points ranks as the third-highest total ever by a UConn sophomore - 89 points shy of Kerry Bascom's school-record total.
Charles earned first-team all-league status for the second time in her career following a season which saw her post eight double-doubles and continue to establish herself as one of the top post players in both the BIG EAST Conference as well as nationally. Charles reached 1,000 career points in the season opener and currently leads the squad with 52 blocks.
With this year's three first-team All-BIG EAST selections, UConn now boasts a total of 37 in the program's history.
2008-09 BIG EAST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Angel McCoughtry, Louisville (Sr., Forward, Baltimore, Md.)
BIG EAST SIXTH MAN AWARD
China Threatt, DePaul (Jr., Guard, Auburn Hills, Mich.)
BIG EAST MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD
Laura Kurz, Villanova (Sr., Forward, Lower Gwynedd, Pa.)
Sarah Miles, West Virginia (So., Guard, San Antonio, Texas)
BIG EAST SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Renee Montgomery, Connecticut (Sr., Guard, St. Albans, W.Va.)
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
School Class Position Hometown
Candyce Bingham Louisville Sr. Forward Louisville, Ky.
*Tina Charles Connecticut Jr. Center Jamaica, N.Y.
Shantia Grace USF Sr. Guard Sarasota, Fla.
Chandrea Jones Syracuse Sr. Guard Baltimore, Md.
*Laura Kurz Villanova Sr. Forward Lower Gwynedd, Pa.
*Angel McCoughtry Louisville Sr. Forward Baltimore, Md.
*Renee Montgomery Connecticut Sr. Guard St. Albans, W.Va.
*Maya Moore Connecticut So. Forward Lawrenceville, Ga.
*Epiphanny Prince Rutgers Jr. Guard Brooklyn, N.Y.
Lindsay Schrader Notre Dame Sr. Guard Bartlett, Ill.
*Shavonte Zellous Pittsburgh Sr. Guard Orlando, Fla.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
School Class Position Hometown
Ashley Barlow Notre Dame Jr. Guard Indianapolis, Ind.
Takisha Granberry West Virginia Sr. Guard Charlotte, N.C.
Monique McLean St. John’s Sr. Guard Newport News, Va.
Deirdre Naughton DePaul Jr. Guard Winnetka, Ill.
Liz Repella West Virginia So. Guard Steubenville, Ohio
Angel Robinson Marquette So. Guard St. Paul, Minn.
Kahla Roudebush Cincinnati Jr. Guard Noblesville, Ind.
Xenia Stewart Pittsburgh Sr. Guard Bowie, Md.
Natasha Williams DePaul Sr. Forward Skokie, Ill.
Noteisha Womack Seton Hall Sr. Forward Washington, D.C.
ALL-BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
School Class Position Hometown
Krystal Ellis Marquette Sr. Guard Racine, Wis.
Karee Houlette Georgetown Sr. Guard Houston, Texas
Nicole Michael Syracuse Jr. Guard Queens, N.Y.
Kia Vaughn Rutgers Sr. Center Bronx, N.Y.
ALL-BIG EAST FRESHMAN TEAM
School Class Position Hometown
Kandice Green Seton Hall Fr. Forward Baltimore, Md.
Keisha Hampton DePaul Fr. Forward Philadelphia, Pa.
Tiffany Hayes Connecticut Fr. Guard Lakeland, Fla.
Natalie Novosel Notre Dame Fr. Guard Lexington, Ky.
Jessica Pachko Marquette Fr. Forward Cincinnati, Ohio
Monique Reid Louisville Fr. Forward Louisville, Ky.
Shanasa Sanders Cincinnati Fr. Guard Jacksonville, Fla.
Erica Solomon Notre Dame Fr. Forward Oak Park, Mich.
*Da’Shena Stevens St. John’s Fr. Forward Stamford, Conn.
Shawnice Wilson Pittsburgh Fr. Center Pittsburgh, Pa.
* - unanimous selection
