March 2, 2005

Algernon Wins GCAC Coach of the Year Honors; Rams honored with awards

MOBILE, Ala. -- Currently enjoying a 24-7 record following a 73-62 first-round victory over LSU-Shreveport, the UM women’s basketball team had plenty to celebrate before tipping off at 8 a.m. this morning as the GCAC announced Rams Head Coach Martha Algernon as conference Coach of the Year. Additionally, Crystal Coston and Kinga Rybarczyk each received All-Conference honors with Coston also being tabbed as GCAC Player of the Year.

Currently sitting with a 189-131 career coaching record, this is the second GCAC Coach of the Year award for the nine year veteran coach. Having started her career in 1995, Algernon advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament in 2002, ending that successful season with a 30-6 record. Once again vying for a conference championship, Algernon will look to lead this year’s talented squad to a conference title and deep into the national tournament.

Coston, who leads the team in scoring (18.7) and rebounding, (10.7) broke the school’s all-time scoring record two weeks ago, surpassing Olivia Crawford’s mark of 1,460 points. A two-time NAIA All-American, this is the first GCAC Player of the Year award for the junior from Thomasville, Ala. Coston’s 30 points and 12 rebounds led the Rams past LSU-Shreveport in the first round of the tournament.

Not too far behind Coston is Rybarczyk who is averaging 16.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. This is the first All-Conference selection for the junior from Poznan, Poland.
Seniors Gabe Feagin, Gimel Lewis and Tramaine Perry all earned All-Conference honors on the men’s side.

Building off a 2004 conference tournament that earned him All-Tournament honors, Feagin garners his first All-GCAC award as he is currently averaging 11.0 ppg to go along with 165 assists.

After earning GCAC Tournament MVP honors and NAIA All-Tournament honors in 2004, Lewis took home another All-Conference award for the second consecutive year. The 6-10 center from Arima, Trinidad is averaging 12.1 ppg and 6.8 rpg to go along with 51 blocks. His 90 blocks in 2004 was a school record as he is currently rewriting the record books on career blocked shots.

For Perry, this marks the fourth All-Conference honor for the senior from Hammond, La. Four years after garnering GCAC Freshman of the Year honors, Perry has taken over as the school’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Rene Antee’s 2,040 mark set in 2000. The 6-foot-6 forward will once again draw notice for All-American honors as he has broken several other UM records including career rebounds, career field goals made and attempted, most games played in, points scored in a single game (46) and is tied for most free throws made in a single game.

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