Rutgers’ women receive 5 Big East awards

Cappie Pondexter was named the Big East’s Player of the Year at the March 4th pre-tournament dinner. The fifth year senior also became the first player in league history to receive four All-Big East certificates. Sophmore Matee Ajavon was also named to the All-Big East First Team while her classmate Essence Carson was recognized as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Big East Second Team.

Pondexter’s awards added to an already thick portfolio of awards she has earned this season.

Pondexter, who has already been named a mid-season candidate for the Naismith Award and Women’s Wooden Award (player of the year) as well as one of 11 nominees for the Nancy Lieberman Award (top point guard) and a finalist for the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award, ranks fifth nationally in scoring, averaging 21.4 points per game, adding 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per contest this season. The MVP at the Junkanoo Jam Nov. 25-26 and the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge Dec. 3-4, the 5-9 guard also received four BIG EAST Conference player-of-the-week awards (Jan. 2, Jan. 16, Feb. 6, Feb. 13) and six berths on the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Jan. 30). Pondexter was a frequent member of preseason honor lists this fall, earning first-team All-America accolades from the Associated Press and Women’s Basketball News Service, second-team All-America mentions from Gballmag.com, Lindy’s and Athlon Sports, and a spot on the Street & Smith’s “Terrific 10” Preseason All-America Team.

Ajavon, provided strong offense for the Knights throughout the year while leading the Big East in several categories.

Ajavon started 18 of 27 games this season, averaging 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and a team-high 4.3 assists and 2.6 steals per contest and posting 18 double-digit scoring totals (one 20+ points). The 2005 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and a second-team all-BIG EAST selection last season, the 5-8 guard led the league in steals and was tied for sixth in assists overall this winter, and she also was tied for first in steals (2.75 spg) and fourth in assists (4.69 apg) in BIG EAST games.

Carson had a strong year while often working on the opposition’s strongest shooter.

Carson started all 27 games for the Scarlet Knights during the regular season, averaging 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shutting down some of the league’s best perimeter players.

A strong “Hoorah, hoorah, Rutgers’ RAH!” to the Ladies.

(Full Storyhere.)