The University of Maine women’s basketball team took home all three major end of the season conference awards on Wednesday, as the America East announced their 2023-24 winners and All-Conference teams.
Graduate guard Anne Simon was named America East Player of the Year, and also AE Defensive Player of the Year. She claimed these accolades in the same season for the second time in her career (2021-22). Simon led the league with 18.9 points per game, and in free throw shooting (81.9%). She was also third in rebounding (7.3), and fourth in assists (3.3). Her seven double doubles were third in the conference, and she also had a conference-best 13 games scoring 20 or more points. Simon earned Player of the Week eight times in the regular season, and becomes just the ninth player in America East all-time to win Player of the Year twice in a career.
Maine head coach Amy Vachon made America East history by becoming the first women’s coach ever in the conference to win Coach of the Year for a fifth time. She led the Black Bears to a 14-2 conference record and a 21-9 mark overall, the highest win total since 2018-19. Maine led the league in scoring (64.8) and was third in scoring defense (57.0), while also ranking first in assists (14.7) and turnover margin (+1.67). She helped clinch the fifth regular season title for the Black Bears in the last seven years. Vachon is assisted by Courtney England, Tom Biskup, and Gadson Lefft.
Along with the three major awards earned, Simon was also named to three All-Conference teams- First Team, All-Defensive Team, and All-Academic Team. Joining Simon on the First Team and All-Academic Team was Maine junior forward Adrianna Smith. Smith has also had a superb season averaging a double double with 16.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. The Black Bears begin their playoff run as the #1 seed on Friday at 5 p.m. when they host #8 UMass-Lowell in the quarterfinals at the Pit in Orono.
You can read the full release with all the players honored by the America East here-
https://americaeast.com/news/2024/3/6/2024_WBB_All-Conference.aspx
Written by Chris Lessner
