Morales named MVP
By RIAL CUMMINGS of the Missoulian
Montana's Mandy Morales was named the Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player on Monday. She averaged 20.1 points and 6.8 assists for the season.
Mandy Morales, the versatile and relentless catalyst for Montana's Big Sky basketball champions, was named the conference's Most Valuable Player on Monday in voting by the league coaches.
Fellow sophomores Sonya Rogers and Britney Lohman made the all-conference second team, while junior Johanna Closson was honorable mention for the Lady Griz, who play host to the Big Sky tournament Thursday through Saturday at Dahlberg Arena.
“I think all four are very deserving,” said Coach Robin Selvig, who guided UM to a 27-2 regular-season mark,
15-1 in conference. “They've been a big part of what, so far, has been a pretty special season.”
The 5-foot-9 Morales, a repeat all-conference selection, led the league in assists from her point guard position, averaging 6.8 per game, and was the scoring runner-up with a 20.1 average. The former Billings West standout was also the league leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.04), third in 3-point shooting (.412), fourth in free-throw shooting (.837) and eighth in field-goal shooting (.460) and steals (1.7). In league games, she tied for 18th in rebounding with a 5.1 average.
Morales was named the league's Player of the Week a record six times.
“She's ranked in just about every statistical category, which is something,” Selvig said. “Mandy isn't just a scorer or a passer. She's a complete player.”
Rogers, a 5-7 guard from Lewistown, was UM's second leading scorer with an 11.9 average, and was sixth in the league in field-goal shooting (.471) and 3-point shooting (.387). Lohman, a 6-1 forward/center from Bozeman, ranked second in the conference in field-goal shooting (.549). In league play, she averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 45 percent from the 3-point arc.
“Sonya has probably been as consistent as anyone on the team,” Selvig said. “Brit's our best defender, and this year her offense became a big factor too.”
Closson, a 6-0 forward from Whitefish, tied for sixth in the league in rebounding (6.6) and averaged 9.6 points.
Junior center Natalie Doma of Idaho State, the league's top scorer and rebounder, joined Morales as the only unanimous first-team pick.
Junior forward Rebecca Mercer of Montana State was named the top newcomer, while junior Laura Dinkins of Northern Arizona was named the defensive player of the year. The league's freshman award, which was shared by Morales last year, went to Portland State guard Claire Faucher.
NOTES: Morales is the 10th Lady Griz to win or share Big Sky MVP, joining Hollie Tyler (2005), Brooklynn Lorenzen (2004), Linda Weyler (2000), Skyla Sisco (1998), Greta Koss (1996), Ann Lake (1994), Shannon Cate (1991, 1992), Jeanne McNulty (1990) and Lisa McLeod (1989). ... The first team also included another Montanan in Weber State's Sara Tuomi, a junior forward from Billings. ... Selections were divided into first and second teams for the first time since 1988-89.
All-Big Sky
First Team
*+Mandy Morales, Montana, 5-9, So., Billings
*+Natalie Doma, Idaho State, 6-3, Jr., Victoria, B.C.
*Andrea Lightfoot, Idaho State., 5-8, Jr., Omaha, Neb.
**Alyssa Wahl, Northern Arizona, 6-2, Sr., Yuma, Ariz.
*Kelsey Kahle, Portland State, 5-10, So., Aurora, Ore.
*Sara Tuomi, Weber State, 6-0, Jr., Billings
+ Unanimous pick
* Previous selections
Second Team
Sonya Rogers, Montana, 5-7, So., Lewistown
Chelsey Warburton, Weber State, 5-8, Sr., Price, Utah
Rebecca Mercer, Montana State, 5-9, Jr., Perth, Australia
Kim Winkfield, Northern Arizona, 5-10, Sr., Tucson, Ariz.
Britney Lohman, Montana, 6-1, So., Bozeman
Jeni Boesel, Idaho State, 5-9, Sr., Brewster, Wash.
Honorable Mention
Phynique Allen, So., Eastern Washington; Sydney Benson, So., Eastern Washington; Johanna Closson, Jr., Montana; Sade Cunningham, So., Northern Arizona; Heather Barbour, Sr., Northern Colorado; Whitley Cox, So., Northern Colorado; Kim Sheehy, Sr., Sacramento State.
