Edinboro's Rosten Makes History to Headline PSAC Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Edinboro senior Ciara Rosten and East Stroudsburg senior Imani Brown have been selected as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Athletes of the Year, the league announced Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the release of the women’s basketball all-conference teams.
All-conference teams and major award winners are voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Rosten becomes the first athlete to win multiple major awards in the same season in the sport while she was named the PSAC West Athlete and Defensive Athlete of the Year. Rosten is the eighth Fighting Scot to win the Athlete of the Year while becoming the fourth EU representative to win the Defensive award. It marks the first time since 2014 that EU has boasted the Athlete of the Year. The senior led the league and is one of two PSAC athletes to average double-digit rebounds (11.8). She is tied for third in the NCAA DII rankings in blocked shots and ran away with the blocked shot crown in the league after amassing 105. Averaging 16.3 points per game, Rosten and the Fighting Scots have secured a date in the Final Four and will take on West Chester Saturday, March 3 at 1 PM in Indiana, Pa. The Buffalo, N.Y., product is the only PSAC athlete to shoot better than 50% from the floor (50.1) while averaging 29.1 minutes per contest.
Brown was tabbed PSAC East Athlete of the Year and is the fourth Warrior to earn the award. It marks the first time since 1995 that an ESU athlete received the recognition. The senior ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring (18.6) and paced the Warriors in rebounds (6.6). She tallied 20 or more points in 11 contests, including a career-high 35 against Mansfield Dec. 30. Despite ESU’s loss in the quarterfinals, Brown dropped 29 points, tying for the second most in ESU postseason history.
Millersville senior Alayah Hall claimed the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and became the first Marauder to garner the award. It is MU’s first major award since 2013. Behind Hall’s strong defense, the Marauders advanced to the Final Four following an upset against ESU, 91-76, and have a date with IUP Saturday, March 3 at 3:30 PM. Hall is one of 10 PSAC athletes to have 60 or more steals on the season. She ranks eighth in the league in shooting percentage (44.5).
IUP’s Tom McConnell was named PSAC West Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. It is the fourth time that an IUP coach has garnered the award. IUP is 26-2 on the season and will host the Final Four as the No. 1 seed in the West. McConnell’s squad has won nine consecutive contests and sits at No. 8 in the country. IUP’s defense has been strong all season and has stifled opponents, hold them to a league-best 52.8 points per game. The Crimsons Hawks lead the league in shooting percentage (46.7) while allowing the lowest percentage on the defensive side (34.0). McConnell’s team leads the PSAC in assist-to-turnover ratio at a +1.24 clip.
WCU’s Kiera Wooden received the PSAC East Coach of the Year accolade for the first time in her career. It marks the sixth time that WCU has received it while former coach Deirdre Kane claimed it five times in her storied career. The Golden Rams are the hottest team in the league while winning 18 consecutive contests. WCU’s offense is only offense in the PSAC to average more than 80 points (82.2) and is second in shooting percentage (46.6). Under Kane’s direction, four Golden Rams landed on an all-conference team, which is the most in the East this season. WCU is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.21).
Seton Hill’s Cheyenne Trest garnered the PSAC West Freshman of the Year honor and is the first Griffin to receive the award. It marks only the second major award that SHU has received after coach Mark Katarski won the Coach of the Year merit last season. Trest claimed the West Freshman of the Week award on nine occasions while scoring in double figures in 23 games, including a career-high 35 against Slippery Rock. She ranks in the top 20 in scoring (14.2) and free throw percentage (83%).
Shippensburg’s Ariel Jones swiped the PSAC East Freshman of the Year award and is the eighth Raider to claim the honor and first since 2014. Jones was incredible during her first year at SU while leading the conference and ranks eighth in DII in scoring at 21.8 points per game. The Lebanon, Pa., native, paced the conference in made free throws with 190 and was one of two athletes to amass more than 600 points this year (609). Jones scored in double figures in every game but one and tallied 30 points or more in five games. She dropped a career-high 36 in a road contest at Mercyhurst.
Brown and WCU’s Porscha Speller appear on a first-team for the second time in their career while IUP’s duo of Carolyn Appleby and Megan Smith join SHU’s Jenna Kaufman on an all-conference squad for the second time.
EASTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| G |
Camden Boehner |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg |
| G |
Imani Brown* |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
Lake Hoptacong, N.J. / Jefferson |
| G |
Alayah Hall |
Millersville |
Sr. |
Dover, Pa. / Dover |
| F |
Mia Hopkins |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Pittston, Pa. / Pittston |
| G |
Ariel Jones |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest |
| F |
Brielle Kelly |
Mansfield |
Sr. |
Longn Valley, N.J. / West Morris |
| G |
Porscha Speller* |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic |
EASTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| G |
Lexi Bruno |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Millville, N.J. / Millville |
| G |
Rylee Derr |
Kutztown |
Fr. |
Lititz, Pa. / Warwick |
| G |
Rileigh Devine |
Lock Haven |
So. |
Etters, Pa. / Red Land |
| G |
TaKayla Ellis |
Cheyney |
Sr. |
Accokeek, Md. / Gwynn Park |
| G |
Tiffany Lapotsky |
East Stroudsburg |
So. |
Ashland, Pa. / North Schuylkill |
| G |
Alyssa Mack |
Bloomsburg |
Jr. |
Walnutport, Pa. / Allentown Central Catholic |
| F |
Taylor Montana |
Bloomsburg |
So. |
Berwick, Pa. / Berwick |
| F |
Alyssa Mullins |
Mansfield |
Sr. |
Vestal, N.Y. / Vestal |
WESTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| F |
Carolyn Appleby^ |
IUP |
Jr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic |
| G/F |
Jenna Kaufman^ |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Damascus, Md. / Damascus |
| F |
Olivia McCabe |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
Portage, Pa. / Portage Area |
| F |
Shatara Parsons |
California |
Sr. |
Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin |
| G |
Ciara Rosten |
Edinboro |
Sr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. / UMass |
| G/F |
Megan Smith^ |
IUP |
Sr. |
Blain, Pa. / West Perry |
| G |
Jontay Walton |
Edinboro |
R-Jr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. / UMass Lowell |
WESTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
University |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| G |
Michaela Barnes |
Edinboro |
So. |
Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston |
| G |
Mia Cushon |
California |
Jr. |
Raytown, Mo. / Raytown South |
| G |
Amesha Harden-Pullium |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy |
| G |
Brooke Hinderliter |
Slippery Rock |
So. |
Seminole, Pa. / Redbank Valley |
| G |
Michelle Jahn |
Edinboro |
Jr. |
Edinboro, Pa. / General McLane |
| G |
Maggie Mitchell |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Newark, Ohio / Newark |
| G/F |
Gabbie Smith |
Pitt-Johnstown |
So. |
Darlington, Pa. / Quigley Catholic |
| G |
Lauren Wolosik |
IUP |
R-Jr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic |
*Indicates previous First Team All-PSAC selection
^Indicates previous Second Team All-PSAC selection
EASTERN DIVISION
Athlete of the Year: Imani Brown, East Stroudsburg
Defensive Athlete of the Year: Alayah Hall, Millersville
Freshman of the Year: Ariel Jones, Shippensburg
Coach of the Year: Kiera Wooden, West Chester
WESTERN DIVISION
Athlete of the Year: Ciara Rosten, Edinboro
Defensive Athlete of the Year: Ciara Rosten, Edinboro
Freshman of the Year: Cheyenne Trest, Seton Hill
Coach of the Year: Tom McConnell, IUP