Story Published:
Mar 8, 2010 at 6:04 PM MST
Story Updated:
Mar 8, 2010 at 7:02 PM MST
March 8, 2010 - BOZEMAN, Mont. - Montana State senior standout Erica Perry was named to the All Big Sky Conference First-Team, while junior Sarah Strand and sophomore Katie Bussey garnered honorable mention accolades. The all conference teams were released by the Big Sky Conference office, Monday afternoon.
“I’m proud of our team, and proud of the way these three individuals stepped-up to be leaders on the floor,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “Each is very deserving of the honors, and shows how balanced a team we have. Erica is one of the best in the league; Sarah is an outstanding defensive player; and Katie is a great outside threat and as ‘clutch’ a player there is in the Big Sky Conference.”
Perry, a point-guard from Lynwood, Calif, earned her second straight first team honor after guiding the Bobcats to a 16-13 overall mark and a 9-7 Big Sky slate. One of the top point-guards in the Big Sky the last four seasons, Perry averaged 13.2 points, ranking among the top 10 in the league. She also led the Big Sky in steals and was seventh in assists.
Aside from earning honorable mention, Strand, a 6-1 forward, was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year, along with Eastern Washington’s Brianne Ryan. Strand finished the regular-season averaging 13.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. In conference games, she ranked among the top ten in all three categories, as well. In addition, Strand set a new MSU single-season blocks record (59) and is only two swats away from becoming the Bobcat career leader as just a junior.
Bussey, a 5-9 guard, was MSU’s leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points per game. She also led the squad with 69 three-pointers, which ranks second on MSU’s single-season list. The native of Alamosa, Colo., was second in the Big Sky in three-point makes and three-point field-goal percentage.
2009-10 Big Sky Women’s All-Conference Team
First Team
(MVP) Julie Piper, Eastern Washington (junior, forward, Roseburg, Ore.) #
Oana Iacovita, Idaho State (senior, forward, Cluj-Napoca, Romania) #
Charday Hunt, Sacramento State (senior, guard, Portland, Ore.) *
Claire Faucher, Portland State (senior, guard, Yakima, Wash.) **
Erica Perry, Montana State (senior, guard, Lynwood, Calif.) *
Whitley Cox, Northern Colorado (senior, guard, Las Vegas, Nev.)
* Number of previous all-conference selections; # Unanimous selection
Second Team
Lauren Beck, Montana (senior, guard, Great Falls, Mont.)
Amy Patton, Northern Arizona (freshman, guard, Tempe, Ariz.)
Kyla Evans, Eastern Washington (junior, guard, Brewster, Wash.)
Erika Edwards, Sacramento State (senior, forward, Redmond, Wash.)
Sarah Strand, Montana State (junior, forward, Seattle, Wash.)
Honorable Mention: Andrea Videbeck, Idaho State; Katie Bussey, Montana State; Emily Christensen, Sacramento State; Tonya Schnibbe, Weber State; Caitlin Anderson, Weber State
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Julie Piper, Eastern Washington
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Brianne Ryan, So., Eastern Washington and Sarah Strand, Montana State
Top Newcomer: Vickey Toney, Jr., Northern Arizona
Outstanding Freshman: Amy Patton, Northern Arizona
