(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton women's basketball team handed out their team awards at a banquet on April 21 in the SUNY Canton campus center.
Head coach Bruce Tallon honored three of his players at the dinner.
Junior forward
Shannon LaFave (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) was named the Most Valuable Offensive Player. LaFave led the Roos in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (6.6) and was second on the team in shooting (.470) and free throw percentage (.680). LaFave was the Sunrise Conference Player of the Year, a First Team all-conference selection and an Honorable Mention all-American by the NAIA.
Freshman guard
Abbey Shoen (Waddington, N.Y.) was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player. Shoen was second on the team in steals (27) and blocked shots (2) and averaged 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Senior forward
Julie Vander Wiel (Malone, N.Y.) received the Coach's Award. Vander Wiel led the team with 15 blocks and she also averaged 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 66 percent from the free throw line.
Coach Tallon also recognized Vander Wiel's mother, Lee and her companion John, for all of their support of Julie and the basketball program.
Sophomore guard
Emily Bush (Heuvelton, N.Y.) was named the Sunrise Conference Outstanding Scholar-Athlete for earning the highest grade-point average among all women's basketball players in the conference. Vander Wiel was named a Scholar-Athlete by the conference and she also earned the prestigious New York State Chancellor's Award for Excellence and a Chancellor's Student-Athlete Award.