Women's Basketball

Carolyn Simpson

Denison juniors Carolyn Simpson (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) and Ellen O'Brien (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) were named to the North Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball first-team on Wednesday.  In addition, junior guard Sarah Perrine (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) was named to the second-team and freshman Haley Dahlgard (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) earned Co-Newcomer of the Year.

The Big Red captured their fourth consecutive NCAC Tournament championship last Saturday and will face DePauw University in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday (March 7).  Denison was led all year long by the play of Simpson and O'Brien who are both making their first appearance on the All-NCAC first team. 

Simpson was a second-team pick a year ago and was the NCAC Newcomer of the Year in 2006.  She averaged 12.6 ppg, led the NCAC in blocked shots (1.9 bpg.) and finished second in the conference in rebounds per game (8.3).

O'Brien averaged 9.0 ppg and 3.4 rpg. and led the conference in assists and set a new Denison single-season assists with 147 entering Friday's game.  She also finished fifth in the conference in steals with 55.  O'Brien was an honorable mention pick in 2007.

Perrine is making her first appearance on the All-NCAC teams.  She is currently second on the team in scoring at 10.5 ppg and is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.  Her 38 3-pointers made is second on the team.  She is also the team's top free throw shooter at 83 percent (40-for-48). 

The Co-Newcomer of the Year award that went to Dahlgard is Denison's fourth such award since it's creation in the 1994-95 season.  She is averaging 9.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg and is shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc.  Her 50 3-pointers made leads the team and is the fifth-most in the NCAC.  Dahlgard follows previous Newcomer of the Year award-winners, Simpson (2005-06), Kristen Sheffield (2003-04) and MaryKay Schwaninger (1997-98).