March 11, 2004

Hartford, Conn. - Stony Brook's Jessica Smith was named the America East Rookie of the Year, as the league announced at the conference tournament luncheon on Wednesday afternoon after a vote of the league's head coaches. Senior Sherry Jordan was named to the all-conference second team and Smith to the third team, while Smith and Mykeema Ford were unanimous selections to the All-Rookie team.

Smith had an outstanding freshman campaign, finishing the regular season averaging 11.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting .457 (128-for-280) from the field. She led the team and all rookies in rebounding and was second only to teammate Ford in scoring. The forward/center, who earned three straight rookie of the week nods late in the season, collected eight double-doubles while posting double-figures in scoring in 19 games and in rebounding in 11 on the season.

Jordan, who was a first team selection for the last two seasons, earns the third America East all-conference accolade of her career after averaging 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds while leading the league in steals (3.13 per game). This season, Jordan moved into second place all-time at Stony Brook in scoring, third in rebounding, free throws and steals and fourth in field goals while becoming the first player in school history, male or female, to collect 1,500 points and 800 rebounds in a career.

Ford posted a fantastic rookie campaign, leading the team and all first-year players while ranking eighth overall in scoring (13.3 points per game) and first among rookies and sixth overall in three-point field goals per game (1.78 per game). A three-time rookie of the week, Ford's best outing of the season came at Boston University on Jan. 28 when she netted 31 points, good for the seventh-best single-game performance in school history, while burrying 7-of-9 three-pointers, setting a new Stony brook record while tying for third all-time in America East for three's in a game.

2003-04 America East Women's Basketball Award Winners

Coach of the Year: Rich Conover, Binghamton
Player of the Year: Heather Ernest, Maine
Rookie of the Year: Jessica Smith, Stony Brook
Defensive Player of the Year: Joi Jefferson, Northeastern

All-Conference:

First Team:
Heather Ernest, Maine, Danielle Hutcheson, Albany, Rachel Laws, Binghamton, Katie Terhune, Boston U., Aaron Yantzi, Vermont

Second Team:
Melissa Heon, Maine, Sherry Jordan, Stony Brook, Maren Matthias, Northeastern, Erika Messam, Hartford, Maralene Zwarich, Northeastern

Third Team:
Becky Bonner, Boston U., Adrienne Norris, Boston U., Jessica Smith, Stony Brook, Kate Townley, Binghamton, Leala Wegwerth, Binghamton

All-Rookie:
Jody Burrows, Northeastern, Mykeema Ford, Stony Brook, Jessica Smith, Stony Brook, Ray Williams, New Hampshire, Ikea Witt, Hartford

Notes: Ernest and Yantzi were unanimous first-team selections. Ford, Smith and Witt were unanimous all-rookie selections.