March 7, 2008

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Navy women's basketball player Cassie Consedine (Fr., Bartlesville, Okla.) garnered her third postseason accolade of the week Friday when she was named as the Patriot League's Rookie of the Year. The announcement was made during the Patriot League Tournament banquet at West Point, N.Y.

"Freshman year is a big adjustment for any student-athlete in any sport," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "It takes someone unique and talented to be able to contribute to a team as much as Cassie did during her freshman year. Add in what she went through as a plebe at the Naval Academy and her accomplishments this season stand out even more."

"I am very surprised, and honored to receive this award," said Consedine. "I wasn't expecting this at all. I am happy to accept it on behalf of my teammates, coaches and the Naval Academy."

Consedine is the fourth Mid to be selected as the league's rookie of the year during Navy's 17-season membership in the Patriot League and the first in 12 years to garner the award. Kim Jackson shared the laurel in 1994, with Becky Dowling winning the award in 1995 and Laurie Coffey receiving the accolade in 1996.

Earlier this week, Consedine was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team and garnered second-team all-league honors. She joins Coffey and Courtney Davidson (2004) as the lone Mids to be named to the league's all-rookie team and earn all-league honors during the same season.

Consedine ranked among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots throughout the 2007-08 season. She ended the regular season ranked third in the league in scoring (13.6 ppg), first in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and second in blocks (2.46 bpg), as well as 22nd in the country in blocks and 69th nationally in rebounds. Consedine is on the verge of becoming the first freshman in eight years and just the third overall to lead the Patriot League in rebounding.

She set not only a Navy freshman class record for the total number of blocked shots this year with 69, she also broke the school single-season mark by 21 rejections and is already more than halfway to the Navy career standard of 124. Consedine also enters the league tournament ranked second in school history for the most points (380) and rebounds (238) recorded by a freshman, as well as fifth on Navy's freshman three-point field goals list (26). Additionally, her 12 double-doubles this season is a new Navy freshman class record, while her 26 games of scoring in double figures is one shy of tying the school single-season standard.

Navy will face Holy Cross Saturday at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament. The game can be heard live locally on WNAV-AM 1430, with Navy All-Access subscribers being able to receive an audio and video feed through http://www.navysports.com(.)