Lurken, Starkey Receive MAC's Biggest Postseason Awards
3/7/2017 12:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Mid-American Conference announced its women's basketball postseason awards on Tuesday, with Kent State senior guard Larissa Lurken being named Player of the Year and Head Coach Todd Starkey being named Coach of the Year.
Jordan Korinek was also honored as she was named to the All-MAC Second Team.
Lurken is the first Golden Flash to receive the MAC's highest honor since Lindsay Shearer was given the title in 2006. Starkey is Kent State's first Coach of the Year recipient since Bob Lindsay received the vote in 1998.
Lurken has set herself apart as one of the nation's best players this season. She currently ranks 3rd in the country in points per game and leads in free throws made and attempted. The Cottage Grove, Minnesota, native is on the verge of breaking Kent State's single season scoring average and is 25 points away from breaking the program's total points record for a single season. Both records are held by Bonnie Beachy who posted 732 points and 21.5 points per game during the 1980-81 season. Lurken became the 20th 1,000 point score in Kent State history this year while she has shattered the program's career records for three pointers and will end ranked in the top ten in numerous other categories. She has proven to be the consummate student-athlete as she was named an Academic All-American last week.
Starkey has put together the best turnaround for any team this season as he took a six-win team to a current 19-11 record. The 2016-17 squad has surpassed its win total from the last three seasons combined and has the No. 3 seed in the M.A.C. Tournament for the first time since 2010. The team has made the biggest RPI jump in the country this season, up 226 spots to its current position of 92.
Korinek has put together her finest season during her junior campaign by averaging 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She also became a 1,000 career point scorer this season and was named an Academic All-American for holding a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Korinek was named All-MAC Honorable Mention in 2016 as a sophomore.
The Golden Flashes will look to continue their success as the No. 3 seed when they begin play in the 2017 MAC Tournament starting Wednesday night in Cleveland.
MAC Player of the Year: Larissa Lurken, Kent State
MAC Coach of the Year: Todd Starkey, Kent State
MAC Freshman of the Year: Lauren Dickerson, Miami
MAC Sixth Player of the Year: Destiny Washington, Ball State
MAC Defensive Player of the Year: Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Renee Bennett, Ball State
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
Larissa Lurken, Kent State
Ally Lehman, Northern Illinois
All-MAC Second Team
Moriah Monaco, Ball State
JoAnna Smith, Buffalo
Jordan Korinek, Kent State
Quiera Lampkins, Ohio
Janice Monakana, Toledo
All-MAC Third Team
Jewel Cotton, Central Michigan
Reyna Frost, Central Michigan
Mikaela Boyd, Toledo
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan
Meredith Shipman, Western Michigan
All-MAC Honorable Mention
Hannah Plybon, Akron
Carmen Grande, Ball State
All-Defensive Team
Calyn Hosea, Ball State
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
Jasmine Weatherspoon, Ohio
Deja Wimby, Western Michigan
MAC All-Freshman Team
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo
Lauren Dickerson, Miami
Janae Poisson, Northern Illinois
Amani Burke, Ohio
Mariella Santucci, Toledo
