TOP CIAA PLAYERS: Bowie State swept the top individual awards in 2004-05 CIAA basketball when center Lee Cook (men) and guard Alysson Hardy (women) were named conference players of the year. Cook, a senior center from Omaha, Ne., led men's stats in both scoring (20.7 ppg.) and rebounding (12 rpg.) while spurring the 24-3 Bulldogs to the E. Div. regular season title and No. 1 ranking in Div. II. Hardy, a Germantown, Md., native, was the most prolific scorer in the CIAA averaging 22 points per game and was the best free throw shooter canning 86.4% of her charity tosses. Steals leaders Luqman Jaaber of Virginia Union (men) and Jessica Hawkins of Shaw (women) earned defensive player awards. Jaaber, from Richmond, Va., led the men with 3.2 per game while Hawkins, who hails from Raleigh, N.C., led the women with 4.32 per game. J. C. Smith point guard Maurice Hooper and Elizabeth City State center Celeste Trahan, who led the CIAA in rebounding (13 pg.) were named the loop's top rookies. The men's coach of the year is Philip Stitt of Winston-Salem State who led the Rams from a fifth place 2004 finish to a 21-6 overall mark and the West Div. regular season title. Jacques Curtis of Shaw was named the women's coach of the year after leading the two-time defending tournament champion Lady Bears to a 26-1 overall record, a 10-0 E. Div. mark and 16-0 ledger against CIAA competition, and a No. 2 national ranking in the WBCA poll. This is his third year going into the tournament as the E. Division's top seed.

2005 ALL-CIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Alleggrie Guinn, Jr., G, WSSU; Lugman Jaaber, Sr., G, VUU; Darius Hargrove, Jr., G, VUU; Kevin Bell, Sr., G, BSU; Curtis Knight, Sr., G, NCCU; Lee Cook, Sr., C, BSU; Jon Moore, Sr., F, NCCU; James Rosebud, Jr., F, Shaw; Antwan Walton, Sr., C, VUU; Audly Wehner, So., F, WSSU; Charles Clark, Jr., F, JCSU; John Fulton, Jr., F, JCSU

2005 ALL-CIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Allyson Hardy, Sr., G, BSU; Kiarsha Curtis, Sr., G, Shaw; Monica Mason, Sr., G, FSU; Nastassia Boucicault, Jr., G, Shaw; Valicia Brown, So., G, SAC; Cassie King, So., F, NCCU; Joy Hairston, Sr., F, Shaw; Rachill Robinson, Sr., F, BSU; Lauren Goss, Sr., F, JCSU; Celeste Trahan, Fr., C, ECSU; Jessica Hawkins, Sr., G, Shaw; Lina Love Brown, Fr., C, LC

60th TOURNAMENT LEGENDS: Current NBA star Ben Wallace out of Virginia Union, scintillating former Winston-Salem State and NBA star Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, and legendary coaches Clarence "Big House" Gaines and the late John McLendon were among the ten players and three coaches unveiled Monday as part of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 60th Anniversary All-Tournament Team. The honor, presented in partnership with the Ford Motor Company, culminates a year-long selection process that involved voting from fans, CIAA presidents, coaches, Hall of Famers, athletic directors and the national media. "This collection of players and coaches is the foundation for the success and historical significance of the CIAA Tournament," said CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. "We wanted to honor the all-time greats that have thrilled and inspired CIAA fans for the last 60 years. Because of these pioneers and their efforts, the CIAA Tournament is now the third largest tournament in the NCAA, regardless of division. Ford Motor Company brought us the idea last year, and with their support, we made honoring these individuals possible." The team will be honored during halftime of the men's championship game on Ford Finals Night, Sat., March 5, with a special 60th anniversary ring presentation. The championship game, sponsored by Ford, will be aired live on ESPN2.

PLAYERS: Al Attles, North Carolina A&T; Bobby Dandridge, Norfolk State; Cleo Hill, Winston Salem State; Sam Jones, North Carolina Central; Earl Lloyd, West Virginia State; Rick Mahorn, Hampton; Earl Monroe, Winston Salem State; Charles Oakley, Virginia Union; Carlos Terry, Winston Salem State; Ben Wallace, Virginia Union.

COACHES: John McLendon, N. C. Central , Clarence "Big House" Gaines, Winston Salem State; Dave Robbins, Virginia Union.

© 2005 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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