George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2006-07 Team Award Winners
4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 26, 2007
2006-07 GW Women's Basketball Highlight Video
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington women's basketball program celebrated one of the most successful seasons in its storied history at Thursday's annual Awards Banquet in the Charles E. Smith Athletic Center. A-10 Coach of the Year Joe McKeown and a host of presenters handed out nine awards to eight different players, while Curtis Symonds, COO of the WNBA's Washington Mystics, spoke to GW players and fans about the state of women's basketball.
Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America Kimberly Beck was chosen the team's Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. Beck, one of three finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award honoring the nation's top point guard, led GW and the Atlantic 10 in assists for the third consecutive season and was the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
Senior Kenan Cole, an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, walked away with her fourth consecutive Academic Excellence Award, as well as her first Strength & Conditioning Award. Cole set single-season career marks with 10.8 ppg on 40.3 percent field-goal shooting, including a career-best 44 three-pointers on 43.6 percent shooting.
Junior Sarah-Jo Lawrence was chosen the Abbie Oliver Smith Award recipient for the second straight year. The award, named in honor of former basketball player and long-time supporter Dr. Abbie O. Smith, recognizes success on the court, in the classroom and in the community. Lawrence was an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District II selection, A-10 Second Team All-Conference pick and is involved in a number of on-campus organizations, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes and GW's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Junior Whitney Allen was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year after finishing second on the team in blocks and rebounds and third in steals. Allen, who typically guarded the opposing teams' top player regardless of position, was named to the A-10 All-Defensive Team, while chipping in 6.1 ppg on 41.6 percent shooting.
A-10 First Team All-Conference honoree Jessica Adair was tabbed Most Improved Player following her breakout sophomore season. Adair started the final 30 games of the season and averaged 12.9 ppg on 52.8 percent shooting and a team-leading 7.6 rpg. Jessica also led the Colonials with 52 blocks and 87 free throws made.
Rookie Ivy Abiona was Newcomer of the Year after leading GW's three freshmen in rebounding (34) and blocks (14), while adding 1.1 points in 23 games played.
Junior Lora Mitchell, who connected on her first career field goal and added 11 rebounds in 12 games off the bench, earned her second Unsung Hero Award.
Sophomore Jazmine Adair, who battled injuries throughout much of the season, was the winner of the Courage Award. Jazmine played 28 games, all but one off the bench, and averaged 4.9 points on 47.5 percent shooting and 3.9 rebounds per game.
GW tied the school-record with 28 victories, advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 for the first time since 1997, and finished the 2006-07 season ranked 11th in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Top 25 poll. GW's 28-4 final record was the best, in terms of winning percentage, in school history. McKeown led the Colonials to their sixth straight regular-season league crown, 16th 20-win season and 14th NCAA Tournament appearance.
