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Gruwell tabbed MVP as women celebrate season

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Gruwell tabbed MVP as women celebrate season

ANCHORAGE - Senior Tamar Gruwell received the Most Valuable Player award Friday as the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team celebrated its 2009-10 season at its annual team banquet at the Petroleum Club. Other individual honors went to seniors Leah Stepovich and Kiki Taylor, juniors Nikki Aden and Sarah Herrin, and sophomore Hanna Johansson.

Gruwell, a 5-8 guard, earned the Team MVP honor after averaging 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, helping the Seawolves to a 24-5 overall record and a 2nd-round NCAA Tournament berth. The Fairfield, Calif. (Vacaville HS/Sierra College) native also led UAA in three-point percentage at .396 and ranked second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in both three-pointers per game (2.6) and steals.

The 2nd-Team All-GNAC selection also earned All-Tournament Team accolades at the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout as UAA captured its fourth straight title with wins over Division I programs Coastal Carolina and Cincinnati. Gruwell finished her career ranked No. 3 all-time at UAA with 2.1 three-pointers per game and was No. 6 in three-point percentage at .391. UAA went 55-9 in her two seasons, including an NCAA Semifinals berth in 2008-09. Gruwell also took home the Coaches' Award, bestowed for commitment to the team concept

The Best Defensive Player award was shared by Aden and Taylor, who were both a force behind UAA's defensive success, helping the Seawolves rank among the top 10 in the Division II statistical rankings for scoring defense (53.8 ppg), turnover margin (+6.62) and steals (13.6). It was the second straight defensive honor for Taylor, who was averaging a GNAC-best 3.2 steals per game when she suffered a broken foot after 16 games. Aden, a 5-8 guard/forward from Portland, Ore. (West Linn HS) averaged 1.2 steals and played the second-most minutes on the team with 28.6 per game.

Meanwhile, Johansson shared Most Improved Player honors for the second straight season, this time along with Stepovich. A 6-2 post from Gothenburg, Sweden, Johansson averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game in her second season, improving those numbers to 11.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 2.4 apg in league play. UAA's current career field-goal percentage leader also paced the GNAC with 54.7 percent marksmanship. As for Stepovich, the 1-year transfer from Seattle University played a key role off the bench, averaging 4.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and shooting .356 from long range. The Fairbanks (Monroe Catholic HS) native shot .372 on three-pointers in league play and made several timely plays to secure late-season wins over Northwest Nazarene and Cal Poly Pomona as she also earned the Most Inspirational Player honor.

Herrin, a junior from Nikiski, received with the Ms. Hustle award after averaging 4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.0 steal per game. Coming off the bench in 27 of 29 contests, Herrin quickly became known for her gritty play, contributing countless positives for the Seawolves that did not necessarily end up on the stat sheet.

The MVP, defensive, inspirational and improved awards were chosen by a vote of team players.
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Players Mentioned

Nikki Aden

#25 Nikki Aden

G/F
5' 8"
Freshman
Tamar Gruwell

#14 Tamar Gruwell

G
5' 8"
Junior
Sarah Herrin

#RS Sarah Herrin

G
5' 8"
Junior
Hanna Johansson

#50 Hanna Johansson

F
6' 2"
Freshman
Leah Stepovich

#RS Leah Stepovich

G
5' 7"
Senior
Kiki Taylor

#10 Kiki Taylor

G
5' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Nikki Aden

#25 Nikki Aden

5' 8"
Freshman
G/F
Tamar Gruwell

#14 Tamar Gruwell

5' 8"
Junior
G
Sarah Herrin

#RS Sarah Herrin

5' 8"
Junior
G
Hanna Johansson

#50 Hanna Johansson

6' 2"
Freshman
F
Leah Stepovich

#RS Leah Stepovich

5' 7"
Senior
G
Kiki Taylor

#10 Kiki Taylor

5' 5"
Junior
G