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Butler Tabs Three To All-Horizon League Teams
March 5, 2007 Indianapolis, Ind. - A trio of Butler women's basketball players was named to All-Horizon League teams on Monday (March 5), the league office announced. Senior Jackie Closser, sophomore Lade Akande and freshman Susan Lester each earned recognition for their play during the 2006-07 season. Closser earns her second-straight All-Horizon League First Team mention as one of the league's best three-point shooters this year. The Alexandria, Ind. native currently ranks among the nation's top-25 with 2.5 three-pointers made per game and ranks in the top-50 nationally with an 84.3 percent efficiency from the free throw line. This season alone, she has become the 17th Butler player with 1,000 career points and has become the program's all-time leader in minutes played. Akande receives an all-league second team nod after leading the Bulldogs and ranking in the top-10 in the Horizon League in scoring with 14.3 points per game. A second-team honoree and all-newcomer team recipient in 2005-06, the Robinson, Ill. native also finds herself listed in the league's top-10 in field goal percentage (49.5 percent), rebounds (5.2 per game) and blocks (1.2 per game). This year, she scored in double-figures in 19 games, including six with 20 points or more. Lester earns mention as a Horizon League All-Newcomer Team honoree as one of the Bulldogs' most versatile players this season. The Anderson, Ind. native has posted seven double-doubles on the year, the most in the Horizon League this season, and leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game. A threat to score from both in the paint and on the perimeter, she has converted 42.7 percent of her shots from the field, including 36.1 percent from three-point.
The Bulldogs continue what has become a tradition of league honors since Couture began her tenure at Butler. In fact, at least one member of every recruiting class has received recognition by the league, including Closser, senior Ellen Hamilton (Newcomer Team, 2003-04), junior Cassie Freeman (Newcomer Team, 2004-05), Akande and Lester. UW-Green Bay's Nicole Soulis was named as the league's Player of the Year, while Kailey Klein from Cleveland State received Newcomer of the Year recognition. Kevin Borseth was named the league's coach of the year after guiding UW-Green Bay to a 25-3 record and first-place finish. Butler, which finished in a tie for second-place in the league this season, opens up its postseason play at home on Wednesday (March 7) when it hosts Youngstown State beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse. First-Team
Second-Team
All-Newcomer Team
All-Defensive Team
Player of the Year: Nicole Soulis, UWGB
Coach of the Year: Kevin Borseth, UWGB
Newcomer of the Year: Kailey Klein, CSU |
