BGSU's Prochaska named MAC player of year again

3/10/2010

BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University junior Lauren Prochaska won Mid-American Conference women's basketball player of the year honors for the second straight season.

Prochaska, the 5-11 junior, averaged a team-leading 17.6 points and 5.7 rebounds to help the Falcons (24-6, 14-2 MAC) claim a sixth straight MAC regular-season championship. She became only the sixth women's player in MAC history to win the honor more than once.

Toledo's Tamika Mays joined Prochaska on the All-MAC first team.

Akron's Jodi Kest was honored as coach of the year, while Miami's Courtney Osborn was named freshman of the year.

"The entire program is excited about Lauren being named the MAC player of the year," BG coach Curt Miller said. "She has been our leader at both ends of the floor and continues to compile impressive statistics despite being the center of attention for all of our opponents."

Prochaska led the MAC in three-point shooting percentage (.447), while also hitting a BG single-season record 80 3-pointers to raise her school career record to 229.

It is the fourth straight season a Falcon won the top honor. Ali Mann won in 2006-07, followed by Kate Achter (2007-08). It's only the second time in MAC history where players from the same school won over a four-year period.

Joining Prochaska and Mays on the All-MAC first team were Buffalo's Kourtney Brown, Eastern Michigan's Tavelyn James, and Kent State's Jamilah Humes.

Mays, who became the first UT player to receive first-team recognition since the 2002-03 season, leads the Rockets in scoring (15.1), rebounding (7.4), and 3-point shooting percentage (40.4).

BG's Tracy Pontius (12.1 points, 3.1 assists) and UT's Naama Shafir (13.7 points, 6.9 assists) were named to the second team. UT's Melissa Goodall (9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) was honorable mention.

Buffalo's Brown was named defensive player of the year and Akron's Rachel Tecca was selected as sixth player of the year.