MAIGA TAPPED CAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Old Dominion University senior forward Hamchetou Maiga captured Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year honors after leading the Lady Monarchs to a 15-1 mark in conference play and the top seed in this week's ALLTEL - CAA Women's Basketball Championship, which will be held at the Old Dominion Fieldhouse. 2001 marks the tenth consecutive year that Old Dominion has produced the award winner.

A Lady Monarch tri-captain, Maiga ranked fifth in the CAA in scoring (14.1ppg), fourth in rebounding (7.6rpg), first in field goal accuracy (156-270, 57.8%), fifth in steals (2.2spg) and eighth in blocked shots (0.8bpg). She was also voted to the CAA All-Defensive and All-Academic Teams.

Old Dominion sophomore guard Okeisha Howard joins Maiga on the All-CAA First team, along with James Madison University sophomore forward Nadine Morgan, University of Richmond guard Michele Koclanes, East Carolina University senior forward Tamilla Murray and Virginia Commonwealth University junior guard Rochelle Luckett. Murray and Luckett tied in the voting for the final spot on the team.

Howard, a 5-5 sophomore, was second in the CAA in both scoring (14.8ppg) and free throws made (125).

George Mason University's Debbie Taneyhill garnered CAA Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Patriots to a regular season record of 20-7 and a 11- 5 mark in CAA play. GMU freshman standout Jen Derevjanik was voted CAA Rookie of the Year. VCU senior guard Liz Remus was honored with the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award, which recognizes the basketball student-athlete who "embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship through her academic and athletic achievement."