For Immediate Release: March 12, 2009
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Holmes named America East Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year

Conference Release

VESTAL, N.Y.-- Freshman point guard Andrea Holmes has been named the America East Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year. Also receiving all-conference honors for the Bearcats were senior center Laura Franceski and freshman forward Viive Rebane.

Holmes, who also received both All-Rookie and third-team all-conference honors, is the second Binghamton player to receive a major conference award since the program joined the America East conference prior to the 2001-02 season. Sarah Cartmill was named the America East Player of the Year in 2002. In addition, Holmes is also the first Binghamton rookie named to one of the three main America East all-conference teams.

"This is a great honor and accomplishment for Andrea," head coach Nicole Scholl said. "She has earned the respect of her teammates and the other coaches in the conference. Everyone has seen how much talent she has."

In her first season at the collegiate level, Holmes was named the America East Rookie of the Week four times. She currently ranks second on the Bearcats with 9.9 points per game, first with 4.1 assists per game (which also ranks fourth in the conference), fourth with 4.6 rebounds per game and second with 1.6 steals per game (which also ties for eighth in the conference).

Holmes has reached double figures in scoring 12 times this season and has reached the 20-point mark three times. Her career-high of 32 points came against Stony Brook on Jan. 18.

Franceski, who leads the conference in blocks (3.1 bpg.), joins Holmes on the third team. She was the America East Player of the Week on Feb. 2 and tied both the school and conference records with eight blocks at Maine on Jan. 31. Franceski also ranked ninth in the conference with 5.9 rebounds per game and third on the Bearcats with 8.9 points per game. This marks the first time in her career that she has earned all-conference honors.

"Laura fought through a lot during this season," Scholl said. "She is a player who worked hard, provided leadership. It's been great to see everything coming together for her the past few games."

Rebane joins Holmes on the All-Rookie Team, marking the first time Binghamton has had two of the five players named to that squad. She was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Feb. 16. For the season, Rebane ranked fourth on the team in scoring (7.8 ppg.), 11th in the conference in rebounding (5.4 rpg.) and tied for sixth in the America East with 1.7 steals per game.

"We are really excited for Viive," Scholl said. "She is one of those players you don't notice until you see the stats after a game. She is a very steady defender who was often asked to guard the opposing team's best forward."

Binghamton (13-16, 8-8 AE) is seeded fourth in the upcoming America East Tournament. The Bearcats face No. 5 UMBC (University of Maryland-Baltimore County) in the quarterfinals on Friday at noon.

The four-day tournament takes place in Hartford.