March 31, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University freshman guard Joanna Miller was tabbed as the 2009-10 NCAA Division I All-Independent Women's Basketball Newcomer of the Year announced Wednesday, as voted on by the independent head coaches and sports information directors.
Miller ended her rookie campaign with 496 points, which is a single-season total only three other Lady Eagles have reached in the past 20 years. Her 496 points is the most scored by a freshman in program history. The Los Angeles, Calif., native is fifth in Lady Eagle history for scoring average in a season.
"Joanna's hard work has paid off," said NCCU head coach Joli Robinson. "She spent the summer working on improving her game and it has worked to her advantage. She spent a lot of time studying, watching and working to get better. She is a student of the game and you can only become what you put your time into becoming."
The California native notched 19.1 points per contest, while scoring 20 or more points in 14 games this season. Miller netted a season-high 32 points against Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 7. She recorded three double-doubles, while scoring in double-figures in 24 of her 26 appearances.
Miller, a two-time All-Tournament Team selection, was also named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State Women's Basketball Second Team.
"I remember all the phone calls and emails over the summer, where she was so excited about what she was doing and getting ready to come play college basketball," continued Robinson. "Even though she was so tired some days, she wanted to be ready and now, I am sure she understands."
CSU Bakersfield guard Katie Williams was named the 2009-10 NCAA Division I All-Independent Women's Basketball Player of the Year, while her head coach Tim La Kose was selected as Coach of the Year.
Ten student-athletes make-up the 2009-10 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball All-Independent Team with five first-team selections and five second-team selections. Each student-athlete is nominated by their sports information director and the team is voted on by both the head coaches and sports information directors.
CSU Bakersfield, which posted the top record among the seven NCAA Division I Independent women's basketball programs with a 16-13 mark, led the way with two first-team selections and Player and Coach of the Year honors. La Kose led his team to their second consecutive NCAA Division I winning season as they became the first CSU Bakersfield team to earn a postseason appearance since turning Division I. The Roadrunners were selected to participate in the Women's Basketball Invitational.
Williams averaged 18.1 points per game to lead her team in scoring, while sitting second on the team in rebounds and blocks with 192 and 16, respectively. She set a single-game record for steals with 13 and recorded a team-high seven double-doubles. The senior from Las Vegas, Nev., netted a career-high 35 points against San Jose State, while scoring 20 or more points in 12 outings this season. Williams reached double-figures in 27 of the Runners' 29 games this season, while finishing the year with 55 3-pointers.
Joining Williams and Miller on the All-Independent First Team are Phynique Allen of CSU Bakersfield, Raven Berry of SIU Edwardsville and Vontisha Woods of Winston-Salem State.
The All-Independent Second Team is made up of Longwood's Brittanni Billups and Chelsea Coward, Seattle's Ashley Brown and Tatiana Heck and Savannah State's Crissa Jackson.
2009-10 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball All-Independent Team
First Team
Phynique Allen, CSU Bakersfield
Raven Berry, SIU Edwardsville
Joanna Miller, North Carolina Central
Katie Williams, CSU Bakersfield
Vontisha Woods, Winston-Salem State
Second Team
Brittanni Billups, Longwood
Ashley Brown, Seattle
Chelsea Coward, Longwood
Tatiana Heck, Seattle
Crissa Jackson, Savannah State
