Willis named to D3Hoops.com Third Team; AWCC MVP
Scott McKinney
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: Sports
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Rita Willis finished out one of the most amazing seasons in Hood College history by being named Third team All-Atlantic region by D3Hoops.com, the nationally recognized authority in Division III basketball.
Willis can add that line to her resume to go along with her status as two-time Most Outstanding Player in consecutive seasons.
She was also named to First Team All-AWCC, along with senior Danielle Allen.
Hood swept all top honors when frehman Danielle Gallagher was named AWCC Rookie of the Year, as well as Second Team All-AWCC.
"I cannot put a value on Rita's importance to our team because she does so many things well," said head coach Tracey Kelley-Franklin, who just wrapped up her first season at the helm. "It will be near impossible to find another player like her that will not commit to a Division I or II school. I look for Rita to have an outstanding senior season."
Willis averaged 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and an AWCC-best 4.9 assists per game, which also ranks 36th in NCAA Division III. She also ranked among the league leaders in free throw percentage, steals per game and blocked shots per game. Five times this season Willis tallied more than 20 points in a game and she had 10 double-doubles, including twice when she was short either just one rebound or one assist for a triple-double.
Her amazing season led the Blazers to an unprecedented 13-game win streak that began in early January and lasted until the AWCC tournament in March.
Along with Allen and Gallagher, Wllis led the teamit what many thought would be a rebuilding year in Coach Kelley-Franklin's first year as a head coach at the collegiate level. The team proved all of the naysayers wrong, despite some tough early season losses and a bench that often was just one person.
Willis is the first player from the AWCC to be honored as a D3hoops.com All-Region performer since 2003 when Amanda Poppleton, of the College of Notre Dame (Md.), was named to the All-Atlantic Region Second Team.
A record 606 players were nominated nationwide for these awards by the sports information directors at the various NCAA Division III schools. The ballot was then made available to the sports information directors, who voted for 10 players-six frontcourt players and four guards-in their region. The top vote-getters at each position were named to the All-Region team.
Willis can add that line to her resume to go along with her status as two-time Most Outstanding Player in consecutive seasons.
She was also named to First Team All-AWCC, along with senior Danielle Allen.
Hood swept all top honors when frehman Danielle Gallagher was named AWCC Rookie of the Year, as well as Second Team All-AWCC.
"I cannot put a value on Rita's importance to our team because she does so many things well," said head coach Tracey Kelley-Franklin, who just wrapped up her first season at the helm. "It will be near impossible to find another player like her that will not commit to a Division I or II school. I look for Rita to have an outstanding senior season."
Willis averaged 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and an AWCC-best 4.9 assists per game, which also ranks 36th in NCAA Division III. She also ranked among the league leaders in free throw percentage, steals per game and blocked shots per game. Five times this season Willis tallied more than 20 points in a game and she had 10 double-doubles, including twice when she was short either just one rebound or one assist for a triple-double.
Her amazing season led the Blazers to an unprecedented 13-game win streak that began in early January and lasted until the AWCC tournament in March.
Along with Allen and Gallagher, Wllis led the teamit what many thought would be a rebuilding year in Coach Kelley-Franklin's first year as a head coach at the collegiate level. The team proved all of the naysayers wrong, despite some tough early season losses and a bench that often was just one person.
Willis is the first player from the AWCC to be honored as a D3hoops.com All-Region performer since 2003 when Amanda Poppleton, of the College of Notre Dame (Md.), was named to the All-Atlantic Region Second Team.
A record 606 players were nominated nationwide for these awards by the sports information directors at the various NCAA Division III schools. The ballot was then made available to the sports information directors, who voted for 10 players-six frontcourt players and four guards-in their region. The top vote-getters at each position were named to the All-Region team.