WESTON, Mass. – Regis College junior forward Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) has been named the New England Collegiate Conference's Player of the Year, it was announced on Monday morning by the league offices. Head Coach Angela Santa Fe was named the NECC Coach of the Year for the third-straight season after leading the Pride to another 18-0 NECC regular season and the program's fourth-straight NECC Championship.
Along with her yearly honor, Hawkesworth was named to the All-NECC First Team for the second straight season and was joined by frontcourt partner Brittany Stone (West Bridgewater, Mass.). Four-Time conference champion Taylor Bunkley (Carmel, N.Y.) was selected to the NECC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Hawkesworth, started and played in 17 conference games for the Crimson and Gold. The junior captain led the NECC in scoring with 18.4 points per game during conference contests. She also was ranked fourth in the league in field goal percentage (50%), fifth in rebounds per game (9.5), 10th in assists per contest (3.2) and chalked up 1.4 steals. Hawkesworth was a three-time NECC Player of the Week, a New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) PrestoSports Player of the Week, an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Week and a member of the NEWBA Weekly Honor Roll.
Santa Fe led the Pride to their fifth-straight season of 20+ wins as the Pride went 24-3 this year. Since joining the NECC in 2011, Regis has won 90-straight NECC regular season games. Santa Fe led a team that was ranked first out of 435 qualified NCAA Division III teams in rebound margin as the Pride outrebounded opponents by 16.6 boards per game. Under Santa Fe's leadership, the Crimson and Gold have been unstoppable on Higgins Court compiling 38 consecutive home victories.
Stone started every conference game for Regis. Last season's Rookie of the Year earned her first ever selection to the conference First Team. The sophomore forward led the league in shooting as she converted 60.3% of her field goal attempts from the hardwood, she ranked second in the conference in scoring with 16.9 points per game, was fourth in blocks per game (1.8) and ranked eighth in rebounds per game (8.9). Stone also set the single game scoring record as she racked up 37 points versus league opponent Lesley University on February 16th. Stone was a two time NEWBA Weekly Honor Roll Selection, a NEWBA PrestoSports Player of the Week and a NECC Player of the Week.
Bunkley wraps up her Pride career with 69 career games, including 33 starts, 208 total points, 223 rebounds, 92 steals and 55 assists.
Regis will travel to the University of New England on Friday as they will square off against Tufts University in the NCAA Tournament First Round.