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Junior Justine Raterman was named the Flyers' White Allen Most Valuable Player. Vice President/Director of Athletics Tim Wabler presents her the award. |
Photo Gallery | Banquet Program
May 7, 2011
DAYTON, Ohio – The 2010-11 University of Dayton women’s basketball team celebrated its season at the Barrett Dining Room in the Kennedy Union Center during the Flyers’ annual awards banquet Saturday.
Master of Ceremonies Shane White welcomed all for joining in the celebration, recognized UD’s achievements and thanked everyone for their contributions to the program’s success.
With its 21-12 record in 2010-11, UD has posted 20+ wins for four consecutive seasons. For the second straight year Dayton won a tournament hosted by a Big Ten opponent, knocking off the Golden Gophers in the Minnesota Subway Classic this November, after winning the Purdue World Traveler’s Classic in 2009. Dayton played four games in four days, advancing to the Atlantic 10 Championship final for the first time in school history. The Flyers advanced to their fourth consecutive postseason this year, including their second straight NCAA at-large berth.
Following a luncheon, the coaches distributed yearly awards to each student-athlete.
Assistant Coach Adeniyi Amadou presented junior Patrice Lalor with the Scholar Athlete Award. She carries a 3.717 GPA in electrical engineering and for the second year, was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Athlete, along with Casey Nance. The award was decided by the individual with the highest GPA during the 2010 spring and fall semesters and Lalor earned a 3.889 GPA.
Associate Coach Kyle Rechlicz presented the Flyer of the Year Award to junior Justine Raterman. The Flyer Award is given to an individual who best represents what it means to be a Dayton Flyer in all aspects; serving others in the community, a commitment to her teammates, giving her best academic effort, and above all striving for excellence in all that she does on and off the basketball court.
Assistant Coach Angie Russell presented the Coaches Award to junior Elle Queen and sophomore Kari Daugherty. Queen also won the award last season. The Coaches Award goes to those who exceed the expectations of the coaching staff by going above and beyond in her quest to be the best.
Coach Amadou presented freshman Cassie Sant with the Most Improved Player Award. This year's choice was difficult, as the coaching staff felt we had many players who made great improvements in specific areas of their game. However, the one player who stood out the most was Sant. We are expecting big things from Cassie the next three years.
Raterman was named as the team’s Most Valuable Player. The Atlantic 10 First Team selection led the Flyers in scoring (16.1 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg) and field goal percentage (.544). When thinking of a most valuable player, most people assume this award goes to the individual who scores the most points. And although this person led the team in points, rebounds, and was second in steals, her value to this team was much deeper than statistics. This year's White Allen Most Valuable Player Award went to Justine Raterman. Raterman captured hearts nationwide with her courageous performance in the A-10 Championship game, scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds in 35 minutes of play on what we would eventually discover was a torn ACL. She emerged as a leader vocally, by example, and emotionally over the course of this season. Most recently, Raterman was invited to participate in USA Basketball's World University Games but had to decline.
Following the awards, each of the three seniors; Kristin Daugherty, Ebony Gainey and Aundrea Lindsey, reflected on their careers at UD.
The banquet was punctuated by the premiere of the Flyers’ 2010-11 season highlight video.
The Flyers are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and lose just one starter from the 2010-11 squad that advanced to the finals of the Atlantic 10 Championship. UD will have seven seniors on the team next season and add three impressive freshmen: French national player Jodie Cornelie, a 6-foot-4 center, ESPN Class of 2011 Super 60 Player Andrea Hoover, and 2011 High School McDonald’s All-American Ally Malott.
