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South Easton, Mass. – Franklin Pierce University junior Johanah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) was selected the 2008-2009 Northeast-10 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season as voted by the conference’s 15 head coaches.

Leedham is the first player since Stonehill College’s Michelle Doonan to repeat as Player of the Year recipient and is just the third to win the award twice in a career. Doonan received the award during the 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 seasons. Bentley University’s Allison Fay won the award in 1982, 1983 and was co-player of the year in 1984.

Leedham currently leads the Northeast-10 in scoring, averaging 22.9 points per game, while shooting 48-percent from the field (11th best in NE-10). She’s grabbing just over six rebounds per contest and is ranked sixth overall in free throw percentage connecting on 86-percent of her attempts. On the defensive side of the ball, Leedham leads the NE-10 with three steals per game. In addition, the former NE-10 Freshman of the Year earned her third straight First Team All-Northeast-10 selection.

The post-season accolades continued for Franklin Pierce as Johannah’s teammate and sister Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) was selected the 2008-2009 Defensive Player of the Year. Leedham is averaging 12.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and is shooting just over 40-percent from the field. The senior guard has helped the Ravens hold opponents to only 62.2 points per game and is averaging just over two steals per game which is fifth best in the NE-10. As a team Franklin Pierce is second in the conference in blocks (4.08) and steals (10.04). In addition, Leedham earned Second Team All-Northeast-10 honors after being named to the Third Team last year.

Pace University forward Brittany Shields (Cold Spring, N.Y.) was voted the 2008-2009 Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year. She is the first Pace player to earn the honors. In just her first year of collegiate play, Shields is averaging 14.5 points per game which ranks her 12th among the conference leaders. She is shooting 52-percent from the field (3rd best in NE-10) and ranks third in the conference in rebounds with 8.7 per game. In addition, Shields was named to the All-Rookie team.

Franklin Pierce head coach Mark Swasey was selected the Coach of the Year in a vote by his peers. Swasey guided the Ravens to a conference best 18-4 record in league play to claim the team’s first ever Northeast-10 Regular Season Title. Franklin Pierce earned the top seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Championship and will host a quarterfinal game next week after receiving a first-round bye. Swasey is the first Franklin Pierce women’s basketball head coach to be named NE-10 Coach of the Year.

With 15 member institutions the Northeast-10 is the second largest NCAA Division II athletic conference in the nation. Its 23 championship sports provide athletic opportunities for over 5,500 student-athletes, the largest such program of any Division II conference.

- NE-10 -

2008-2009 Northeast-10 Conference
Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams

First Team
Stacy Boisvert, American Int'l
Johannah Leedham, Franklin Pierce
Kristy McLean, Bentley
Lauren Revesz, Saint Rose
Kelsey Simonds, Stonehill

Second Team
Kim Brennan, Bentley
Courtney Coryea, Le Moyne
Jennifer Leedham, Franklin Pierce
Emily Rousseau, Stonehill
Amanda Shannon, Merrimack

Third Team
Dana Brown, Saint Rose
Laechia Conley, American Int'l
Lauren Hood, New Haven
Bethany Plasski, Assumption
Bethany Tighe, Stonehill

All - Rookie
Nikki Carroll. New Haven
Megan Howard, Saint Anselm
Lauren Massie, Bentley
Kelly Meredith, Assumption
Brittany Shields, Pace