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March 7, 2008

HARTFORD, Conn. - Two members of the Marquette women's basketball team were honored by the BIG EAST Conference Friday evening at the pre-tournament banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Hartford, Conn., as junior Krystal Ellis was named First Team All-BIG EAST and freshman Angel Robinson was named to the All-Freshman Team.

"The BIG EAST is arguably the best conference in the nation and for the 16 teams to recognize Krystal for the second straight season as one of the best players in the league is an amazing accomplishment," said head coach Terri Mitchell. "Considering the youth of our team, she had to take the scoring burden on her shoulders, but she did so much more.. Hopefully she will continue to grow and be one of the most decorated players to leave our program."

Ellis, the lone holdover from the starting lineup from a season ago, continues to show why she is among the conference's elite as she leads the team in scoring with 18.8 ppg, a mark that ranks fourth in the league. In conference play, she stands sixth with 17.5 ppg. She has led Marquette in 18 games this season and has scored in double figures on 24 occasions. She was named the league's first BIG EAST Player of the Week of the season on Nov. 19 following her 31-point performance in a win over Wisconsin.

Not only can she score, she has proven she can defend as well registering one of the top-five steals per game marks in the conference, 2.20 spg, and ranks fourth in conference only games with 2.13 spg. Ellis was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection in 2007, an All-Rookie Team honoree in 2006 and has been named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll three times for the season.

Robinson, a two-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, is second on the team in scoring with 10.5 ppg. Her scoring average of 12.0 ppg in conference games is the third highest of all rookies and 26th overall.

She is second overall in the league in steals with 2.69 spg and third in conference action with the same total. Not only is Robinson a taker, she is a giver as well as she stands fourth in the BIG EAST with 4.50 apg.

"The first day Angel walked on campus we knew she was special and was going to impact our program. For all that she accomplished and for her to be recognized with all of the talent in this conference is great. The person she is makes it that much more special. She plays both ends of the court and be a cheerleader for our team," said Mitchell.

The Golden Eagles will meet DePaul in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m. CT. The game can be seen locally in Milwaukee on Time Warner Sports Ch. 32.

2007-08 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Awards

BIG EAST Player of the Year - Maya Moore, Connecticut (Fr., Forward, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year - Maya Moore, Connecticut (Fr., Forward, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

BIG EAST Coaches of the Year - Geno Auriemma, Connecticut (23rd season); Quentin Hillsman, Syracuse (2nd season)

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year - Essence Carson, Rutgers (Sr., Guard/Forward, Paterson, N.J.)

BIG EAST Sixth Man Award - Ketia Swanier, Connecticut (Sr., Guard, Columbus, Ga.)

BIG EAST Most Improved Player - Epiphanny Prince, Rutgers (So., Guard, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award - Meg Bulger, West Virginia (Sr., Guard/Forward, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

BIG EAST/Aéropostale Scholar-Athlete - Allie Quigley, DePaul (Sr., Guard, Joliet, Ill.)

ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Matee Ajavon, Rutgers, Sr., Guard, Newark, N.J.
Charel Allen, Notre Dame, Sr., Guard, Monessen, Pa.
Tina Charles, Connecticut, So., Center, Jamaica, N.Y.
Krystal Ellis, Marquette, Jr., Guard, Racine, Wis.
Angel McCoughtry, Louisville, Jr., Forward, Baltimore, Md.
Renee Montgomery, Connecticut, Jr., Guard, St. Albans, W.Va.
Maya Moore, Connecticut, Fr., Forward, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Epiphanny Prince, Rutgers, So., Guard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Allie Quigley, DePaul, Sr., Guard, Joliet, Ill.
Olayinka Sanni, West Virginia, Sr., Center, Chicago Heights, Ill.
Shavonte Zellous, Pittsburgh, R-Jr., Guard, Orlando, Fla.

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Candyce Bingham, Louisville, Jr., Forward, Louisville, Ky.
Meg Bulger, West Virginia, Sr., Guard/Forward, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Essence Carson, Rutgers, Sr., Guard/Forward, Paterson, N.J.
Shantia Grace, USF, Jr., Guard, Sarasota, Fla.
Chandrea Jones, Syracuse, Jr., Guard, Baltimore, Md.
Laura Kurz, Villanova, Jr., Forward, Lower Gwynedd, Pa.
LaQuita Owens, West Virginia, Sr., Guard, Charlotte, N.C.
Kia Vaughn, Rutgers, Jr., Center, Bronx, N.Y.
Marcedes Walker, Pittsburgh, Sr., Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
Kia Wright, St. John's, Sr., Guard, Copiague, N.Y.

HONORABLE MENTION
Ashley Barlow, Notre Dame, So., Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.
Kieraah Marlow, Georgetown, Sr., Forward, Coatesville, Pa.
Nicole Michael, Syracuse, So., Guard/Forward, Queens, N.Y.
Deirdre Naughton, DePaul, So., Guard, Winnetka, Ill.
Lindsay Schrader, Notre Dame, Jr., Guard, Bartlett, Ill.
Ketia Swanier, Connecticut, Sr., Guard, Columbus, Ga.

ALL-BIG EAST FRESHMAN TEAM^
Chelsea Cole, Pittsburgh, Fr., Forward, Lumberton, N.J.
Lorin Dixon, Connecticut, Fr., Guard, Springfield Gardens, N.Y.
Mi-Khida Hankins, Providence, Fr., Guard/Forward, Baltimore, Md.
Tasha Harris, Syracuse, Fr., Guard, Bronx, N.Y.
Taneisha Harrison, Pittsburgh, Fr., Guard, Bowie, Md.
Sky Lindsay, St. John's, Fr., Guard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Brittany Mallory, Notre Dame, Fr., Guard, Baltimore, Md.
Maya Moore, Connecticut, Fr., Forward, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Erica Morrow, Syracuse, Fr., Guard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Devereaux Peters, Notre Dame, Fr., Forward, Chicago, Ill.
Angel Robinson, Marquette, Fr., Guard, St. Paul, Minn.
Ebonie Williams, Seton Hall, Fr., Guard, Hagerstown, Md.

^ - Due to a tie in voting, two extra members have been added to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team