Three Bruins cited in NSAA Awards Program
Caletria Curtis (First Team) and Ryleigh McCartney (Honorable Mention) earned all-NSAA distinction and Elexis Martinez was earned distinction as Newcomer of the Year when conference post-season awards were announced on Friday.
JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- For the second-straight season the Bellevue University women's basketball team had multiple student-athletes recognized in the North Star Athletic Association Awards Program.
Seniors Caletria Curtis and Ryleigh McCartney both earned all-conference distinction while redshirt freshman Elexis Martinez was tabbed as the league's Newcomer of the Year. Curtis was named a first team all-NSAA selection and McCartney was recognized by the league with an honorable mention.
Curtis, a second team all-NSAA selection last season, becomes the first player in program history to earn first team honors. For the season she averages a team-leading 12.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while putting up 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in league play. She is the only player in the conference leading her team in scoring, rebounding, assists (88), and steals (51). Twice this season (Jan. 15, Feb. 5) she was recognized as the NSAA Player of the Week which brought her career total to four.
McCartney, who was also an honorable mention all-NSAA choice a year ago, is averaging 9.8 points per game overall and 11.2 in conference play. Her shooting percentages, both from beyond the arc 38.8 (overall) and at the line 76.9 (overall), increased in league play to 39.8 and 79.3 percent, respectively. Additionally, she averages 2.9 rebounds per game and has 30 assists and 22 steals on the year.
Martinez, after appearing in just four games last season – and none in NSAA play – remained eligible for Newcomer of the Year honors. She ranks second on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg), third in rebounding (4.8 rpg), and leads the team in both field goal percentage (50.0 percent) and blocked shots (27). She was the first Bruin to earn NSAA Player of the Week honors this season, earning the distinction back on Nov. 20.
The Bruins are 19-12 overall on the season and currently preparing for their next game, an NSAA semi-final match-up against #16 Valley City State University that is set to tip-off tomorrow (Feb. 24) at 4 p.m. BU finished the NSAA Regular-Season with an 11-5 record, earning the third-seed in the NSAA Tournament where they dispatched sixth-seeded Presentation College, 92-60, in Wednesday's quarterfinal round.
Major Awards:
Player of the Year: Bryn Woodside (Jamestown)
Defensive Player of the Year: Bryn Woodside (Jamestown)
Newcomer of the Year: Elexis Martinez (Bellevue)
Coach of the Year: Greg Ulland (Jamestown)
First Team All-NSAA:
Bryn Woodside (Jamestown)
Lexi Lennon (Valley City State)
Andi Gayner (Mayville State)
Caletria Curtis (Bellevue)
Macy Toelle (Presentation)
Second Team All-NSAA:
McKayla Orr (Jamestown)
Britley Plautz (Dakota State)
Naomi Torgerson (Mayville State)
Alli Vandal (Valley City State)
Paige Emmel (Jamestown)
Honorable Mention All-NSAA:
Kennedy Wagner (Dakota State)
Ryleigh McCartney (Bellevue)
Alyssa Nilssen (Viterbo)
Taylor Fricke (Waldorf)
Mackenzie Huber (Valley City State)