No. 1: a case for Katie
Matt Price
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Sports
The race for Division II Women's Basketball National Player of the Year will come down to two names: Katie Cezat, a senior from Hillsdale College and GLIAC?MVP, and Britney Jordan, a senior from Texas A & M University at Commerce and Lone Star State Conference North Division Player of the Year.
Not only are Cezat and Jordan excellent players, they garnered national attention when Sports Illustrated featured Jordan then Cezat in their "Faces in the Crowd" section.
Jordan, who is a former High School All-American, has been the most prolific scorer through Feb. 22 in Division II this season, averaging a remarkable 31.3 points per game.
Undoubtedly, Jordan is one of the best players in Division II this year.
But she is not the best.
Cezat is.
Cezat's rise to fame has been straight out of a storybook. Two years ago, Cezat was an unheard of player. The official stats from the NCAA website report during the season of 2006-2007, Cezat made only 30 field goals and attempted 23 free throws. She only averaged 2.1 rebounds per game as well.
Flash-forward a year to her junior season. The 6'1" forward rose from an unknown to the nation's leading scorer at a blistering 24.03 points per game and an All-American selection. In one season she increased her scoring by 20 points per game. Now that her abilities were exposed, the question became, "Can she do that as a senior, with teams out for her?"
The answer is an empathetic yes.
Cezat has been the defensive focus for every team she has played against this year. In some cases, teams have resorted to triple-teaming her.
However, not even triple-teams have been able to slow down Cezat. Instead of faltering under the increased defensive pressure, Cezat has increased her production.
While Cezat does trail Jordan in points per game average at 29.1, she does lead the nation in two major statistical categories, which is something no other player can say.
Cezat leads all Division II players with an average of 16.8 rebounds per game, which is almost three more than the next closest person. Remarkably, Cezat is averaging four rebounds more per game than she did last year.
Not only are Cezat and Jordan excellent players, they garnered national attention when Sports Illustrated featured Jordan then Cezat in their "Faces in the Crowd" section.
Jordan, who is a former High School All-American, has been the most prolific scorer through Feb. 22 in Division II this season, averaging a remarkable 31.3 points per game.
Undoubtedly, Jordan is one of the best players in Division II this year.
But she is not the best.
Cezat is.
Cezat's rise to fame has been straight out of a storybook. Two years ago, Cezat was an unheard of player. The official stats from the NCAA website report during the season of 2006-2007, Cezat made only 30 field goals and attempted 23 free throws. She only averaged 2.1 rebounds per game as well.
Flash-forward a year to her junior season. The 6'1" forward rose from an unknown to the nation's leading scorer at a blistering 24.03 points per game and an All-American selection. In one season she increased her scoring by 20 points per game. Now that her abilities were exposed, the question became, "Can she do that as a senior, with teams out for her?"
The answer is an empathetic yes.
Cezat has been the defensive focus for every team she has played against this year. In some cases, teams have resorted to triple-teaming her.
However, not even triple-teams have been able to slow down Cezat. Instead of faltering under the increased defensive pressure, Cezat has increased her production.
While Cezat does trail Jordan in points per game average at 29.1, she does lead the nation in two major statistical categories, which is something no other player can say.
Cezat leads all Division II players with an average of 16.8 rebounds per game, which is almost three more than the next closest person. Remarkably, Cezat is averaging four rebounds more per game than she did last year.
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