Landmark Announces Women's Basketball Awards
TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference women’s basketball coaches selected Catholic’s Emily Grabiak as the Player of the Year. Juniata’s Kate McDonald was named Defensive Player of the Year while Scranton’s Sarah Payonk earned Rookie of the Year honors.
Grabiak led Catholic to a 19-6 record and the No. 2 seed in the Landmark tournament. She averaged more than 16 points per game and more than nine rebounds per game. Grabiak ranks in the top 10 in ten different categories of Landmark statistics. To date, she has recorded 11 double-doubles this year and was named the Landmark Player of the Week four times, including three consecutive weeks.
McDonald was voted Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in three years. She leads the Landmark in rebounds (10.7 per game) and steals (3.6 per game). McDonald finished the season with 17 double-doubles to rank 12th in NCAA Division III. She ranks 11th in steals per game. Not only is she a valuable asset statistically, but McDonald has been praised for the intangibles she brings to her team.
Both players were also named to the First Team All-Landmark. This marks the third year for McDonald and second for Grabiak. Also joining the duo on First Team are Meredith Mesaris of Scranton, Josephine Migash of Catholic, Mariah Monahan of Susquehanna and Moravian’s Katie O’Rourke.
Mesaris led the Landmark in scoring with 18.7 points per game. She has racked up double figures in scoring in every game this season and set a new school record with 136 free throws made so far this season. She helped lead the Royals to their third Landmark title on Saturday and earned Most Valuable Player honors for her performance.
Migash more than doubled her points and rebounds production this season. She boasts 12.3 points per game and 6.0 boards per game. She earned a starting role as a sophomore and took advantage of the opportunity.
Monahan is another senior who went out with a bang. She is the only the second Susquehanna player to earn First Team honors. While the Crusaders came up just short in their chance to compete in the Landmark playoffs, Monahan led the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game. She leads the Landmark in free throw percentage at 86.4 percent (89-103) and ranks fourth in assists with 103. Monahan tallied three 20-point games and two double-doubles in points and assists.
O’Rourke led Moravian in more ways than one this season on the way to earning back-to-back First Team recognition. She finished as the team’s leading scorer with 13.3 points per game, but really stepped up in all facets of the game. Known for her patience as a shooter, O’Rourke ranks second amongst guards in shooting with a 46.0 field goal percentage.
Scranton freshman Sarah Payonk stepped in right away for the Royals and started every game. She is averaging nearly 11 points per game and more than eight rebounds per game, just shy of a double-double. Payonk leads the Landmark in total rebounds and ranks fourth in boards per game. She has also contributed 2.8 assists per game and 1.5 blocks per game.
Catholic head coach Matt Donohue and his staff were voted Coaching Staff of the Year for the conference. The Cardinals came up short in their quest to defend their 2013 title, but finished the regular season 19-5 overall and 12-2 in the Landmark on the way to earning the No. 2 seed in the tournament. This marks the first time Donohue has been honored by the conference.
The 2013-14 Landmark Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams:
| First Team |
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team |
|
|
|
|
Emily Grabiak*
|
Catholic |
Sr. |
G |
Haddonfield, N.J.
|
|
Lindsay Fluehr |
Scranton |
Jr. |
G
|
Bensalem, Pa. |
Kate McDonald*^
|
Juniata
|
Sr. |
F |
Penn. Furnace, Pa.
|
|
Sharnell Huff
|
Goucher
|
Sr. |
G
|
Bowie, Md.
|
Meredith Mesaris
|
Scranton |
Jr. |
F
|
Fairfax, Va.
|
|
Laura Jordan
|
Moravian
|
Sr. |
F |
Easton, Pa.
|
Josephine Migash
|
Catholic |
So. |
F |
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
|
|
Nikki Komara
|
Susquehanna
|
Fr.
|
G
|
Shamokin, Pa.
|
Mariah Monahan
|
Susquehanna
|
Sr. |
G |
Towanda, Pa.
|
|
Sarah Payonk
|
Scranton
|
Fr. |
F
|
Schwenksville, Pa.
|
| Katie O'Rourke* |
Moravian |
Sr. |
G |
Palmyra, Pa. |
|
Breana Wilson
|
Drew
|
Jr. |
G
|
Irvington, N.J.
|
* 2012-13 First Team All-Landmark
^ 2011-12 First Team All-Landmark