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April 23, 2008


CNU's Schweers Named Player & Rookie of the Year in College Women's Basketball
UMW's Applebury Tabbed Coach of the Year

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport’s Chelsie Schweers was named the State’s Player and Rookie of the Year and Mary Washington’s Deena Applebury has been honored as the State’s Coach of the Year, the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced.

2008 VaSID Women's Basketball College Division All-State Team

Schweers becomes the first women’s basketball player to be named both Player and Rookie of the Year in VaSID history. She also became the first women’s basketball player to take home the same honors in USA South history. Schweers averaged a team-high 21.6 points. She finished the year shooting 51% from the field and 45% from long range.

Schweers was a First Team All-South choice by D3hoops.com and was an Honorable Mention All-American by the same organization. D3hoops.com also honored her as the South Region’s Rookie of the Year. Schweers led the conference in scoring as well as three-point field goals made. She finished the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring average, 3-point field goal percentage and three’s made. Schweers set school records for three-pointers in a game, season and percentage for a game.

Applebury guided her Eagles squad to a 28-3 record and a spot in the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight season.

Joining Schweers on the First Team were Randolph-Macon’s Molly Ariail, Mary Washington’s Liz Hickey, VA Wesleyan’s Heather Phillips and Christopher Newport’s Colandra Rollins.

Ariail, a sophomore center from York, PA, was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year. She also earned Third Team All-South accolades by D3hoops.com. Ariail averaged 16.3 points, finishing second in the ODAC, and was fourth in the league in rebounding (8.4 rpg).

Hickey, a senior from VA Beach, VA, averaged 14.5 points and 8.7 rebounds. She blocked a total of 133 shots and shot 56% from the floor. Hickey was named the Atlantic Region Player of the Year by D3hoops.com and became the NCAA Division III all-time leader in blocks with 509.

Phillips, a senior forward and Hillsboro, VA native, averaged 14.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per outing, leading her team in both categories. She was named Honorable Mention All-American by the WBCA. Phillips was also an ODAC All-Conference choice.

Finally, Rollins, a Culpeper, VA native, led the Captains in rebounding, pulling down 11.5 per game. She also scored 18.5 points per game. Rollins was a First Team All-USA South and All-South Region choice. She led the USA South in field goal percentage (61%) and rebounding.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.