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Degou and Simmler Named to All-LEC Women's Basketball Team
KEENE, N.H. 3/3/09 - Senior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) was named the Little East Conference men's basketball co-player of the year on Tuesday. Kathan shares the honor with senior guard Bobby Bailey of Rhode Island College.
Kathan was named to All-LEC first team for the third year in a row while senior forward Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.) earned a spot on the All-LEC second team. Freshman forward Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) was selected to the LEC All-Rookie team.
Juniors Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) and Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) are marking their inaugural appearance on the All-LEC women's basketball team. Degou was picked to the first team while Simmler was a second-team selection. Degou and senior guard Michele Boudreau (Readsboro, Vt.) were also named to the All-LEC defensive team.
Kathan, who also received the honor in 2007, becomes the first two-time player of the year for the Owls. He joins a select group of six former LEC greats, the last being Adam DeChristopher of Plymouth State (1998 and 1999), as a two-time recipient of the award.
"It's a great honor, but at the same time I wish we were still playing," Kathan said. "I didn't have any personal goals. I just wanted to win the LEC championship."
"The honor is well deserved for Tyler, especially you consider his accomplishments this season and the added pressure to deliver every game," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert. "It's a fitting way for him to conclude a very successful career."
Kathan wrapped up his four-year Owls career with a standout senior season, leading the LEC in scoring (18.4 ppg.) and rebounding (10.2 rpg.) He was a double-figure scorer in 24 of KSC's 25 games, posted 14-double-doubes, and set career highs with 36 points against Western Conn. (1/13/08) and 19 rebounds vs. UMass-Dartmouth (1/10/08) this season. Kathan, who was also named the LEC rookie of the year in 2006, concludes his career third on Keene State's all-time scoring (1,805) and rebounding (939) lists.
Anderson, who also earned All-LEC honors as a sophomore, finished second on the team in scoring (13.5 ppg.) and rebounding (8.6 rpg.). Reaching the 1,000-point career milestone, he scored a career high 38 points against Western Conn. (2/14/09) and pulled down a career high 21 rebounds vs. Daniel Webster College (11/22/08) this season.
Starting in 22 of the Owls' 26 games, D'Amour averaged 10.6 ppg. The left-handed shooting forward scored in double figures 14 times, including a season high 21 points against UMass-Dartmouth (1/10/09).
Degou topped the Owls in scoring (13.0 ppg.) and blocks (1.1bpg). She hit double figures in 21 games, scoring a season high 21 points against rival Plymouth State on Jan. 20 and Feb. 24.
Simmler led KSC in rebounding (7.0 rpg.) and was second in scoring with a 10.6 ppg. average. She scored in double figures in 15 games, scoring a season high 19 points against Amherst College (12/2/08) and Plymouth State (1/20/09). She pulled down a season best 11 rebounds vs. Nichols College (11/18/08), Williams College (1/6/09) and Southern Maine (1/24/09).
Degou and Boudreau, who led the LEC in steals (3.1 spg.) and was second in assist/turnover ratio (1.8), spearheaded a KSC defense that finished second in the conference in scoring defense (51.2 ppg.).
