Degou and Simmler named to All-LEC teams

KEENE, N.H. 3/2/10 -  Freshman swingman Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) was named rookie of the year  by the Little East Conference, which announced its end of the season men's and women's basketball honors on Tuesday.

Three Owl players earned All-LEC recognition.  Seniors Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) and Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) were selected to the first and second women's team respectively while sophomore Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) was a first-team pick on the men's side.  Degou was also named to the LEC All-Defensive team for the second year in a row.

Mariano had a fine first season for the Owls, averaging, 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.  Starting in the Owls' final 16 games of the season, he was a double-figure scorer in 16 games, scoring a season-high 29 points against Eastern Conn. on Jan. 19.  Marinao is the second KSC men's basketball player to receive LEC rookie honors, joining Tyler Kathan, who earned the award following the 2006-07 season. 

Excited to receive the honor, Mariano credits his teammates for helping him take his game to the next level. "They leaned on me during certain points of the season and I had to step up in a lot of different situations," he said.  "I had some highs and lows, but I was glad I was able to respond and help my team."

"There are a lot of things I have to do to improve my game, so we improve and reach the next level," Mariano added.

"Anthony benefited from being able to play a lot of minutes as a freshman," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "He definitely played at an extremely high level at portions of the year from an offensive stand-point and we're looking from him to improve in other areas.  I'd like to see him on the All-LEC and the All-Defensive teams next season."  

Degou was named to the All-LEC first-team for the second consecutive season.  The senior guard filled up the score sheet, averaging a team high 13.9 points to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.  The two-time LEC player of the week and honor roll member scored in double-figures in 19 of Keene State's 26 games, including a career-high 29 points against Regis College in the KSC Tip-Off tournament.  One of the top defensive players in the conference, Degou and the Owls led the LEC in scoring defense (52.9 ppg.).

Simmler, who also earned LEC first-team honors as a sophomore in the 2007-08 season, finished second on the team in scoring (11.5 ppg.) and rebounding (6.0 rpg.).  The senior forward netted a career-high 26 points against Trinity College on Nov. 24. 

An offensive machine for Keene State this season, D'Amours topped the LEC in scoring (23.8 ppg.) and three-point field goals made per game (2.9).  A three-time LEC player of the week and four-time member of the honor roll, the sophomore forward hit double-figures in 25 of KSC's 26 games, tying an LEC record with a 41 point performance in the Owls' regular season finale against UMass-Dartmouth on Feb. 20.