Warburton Repeats as GNAC Defensive Player of the Year
WINTHROP, Mass.—Anna Maria College women's basketball senior forward Trafficia Warburton (Worcester, Mass.) has repeated as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Defensive Player of the Year, as announced by the league office on Tuesday morning.
Warburton was also named to the GNAC All-Conference First Team.
In her second season at Anna Maria, Warburton led the country in steals with 129 (4.96 per game). She also led the GNAC in defensive rebounds per game this season (8.0 r/g) and double-doubles (17).
In addition to her success on the defensive end, Warburton also ranked fifth in the conference in points per game, averaging 16.5 points per contest. She scored in double-figures in all but three games over the course of the season, and scored a season-high 27 points against Western Connecticut on December 9th.
Joining Warburton in the major awards categories are Deanna Purcell from Rivier, the league's Player of the Year, and Olivia Bolden from Albertus Magnus, who was tabbed the GNAC Rookie of the Year. Emmanuel head coach Andy Yosinoff was voted the GNAC Coach of the Year.
Purcell and Warburton are also joined on the first team by Sarah Higgins (Emmanuel), Aliah Curry (Norwich), and Iliana Quadri (Suffolk).
Anna Maria freshman Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn.) was named to the team's All-Sportsmanship team, while Simmons College received the league's Institutional Sportsmanship Award.
2015 GNAC Women's Basketball All-Conference
First Team
Trafficia Warburton, Anna Maria
Sarah Higgins, Emmanuel
Aliah Curry, Norwich
Deanna Purcell, Rivier
Iliana Quadri, Suffolk
Second Team
Olivia Bolden, Albertus Magnus
Katie Stopera, Lasell
Heather LeBlanc, Norwich
Sarah Assante, Saint Joseph's Maine
Morgan Cahill, Saint Joseph's Maine
Third Team
Jennifer Bujnowski, Emmanuel
Raquel Pederzani, Johnson & Wales
Bobbie Whitehead, Johnson & Wales
Savanna Butterfield, Rivier
Caitlyn Perry, Rivier
Player of the Year – Deanna Purcell, Rivier
Defensive Player of the Year – Trafficia Warburton, Anna Maria
Rookie of the Year – Olivia Bolden, Albertus Magnus
Coach of the Year – Andy Yosinoff, Emmanuel
Institutional Sportsmanship Award – Simmons College
All-Sportsmanship Team
Megan Thornton, Albertus Magnus
Kristina Russo, Anna Maria
Devin Rauh, Emmanuel
Kaitlin Kenney, Johnson & Wales
Breeana Williams, Lasell
Shanell Nardone, Mount Ida
Leah Turcotee, Norwich
Rebecca DeBaldo, Rivier
Carlee Putnam, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Abbie Eastman, Saint Joseph's Maine
Shelby Santini, Suffolk
