Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year after guiding the No. 4 Terrapins to a perfect conference record in their first season.
Frese, who was also named the Big Ten Coach of the Year while at Minnesota in 2001-02, has earned such an honor from a conference for the fourth time. She was recognized by the MAC in 2000, when she was coaching at Ball State, and was honored by the ACC last season.
She was also chosen as one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award on Tuesday.
“Congratulations to Brenda and her staff in leading the Terps to an undefeated conference record in our inaugural campaign in the Big Ten,” athletic director Kevin Anderson said in a statement issued by the school. “Brenda is very deserving of this honor and the tremendous success she’s had this season is a testament to her outstanding leadership.”
Sophomore guard Lexie Brown was also recognized as a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy, which honors the top women’s basketball player in the country. Brown, who was also named to the Big Ten first team and by conference coaches and a media panel, as well as the Big Ten all-defensive team, averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 assists per game and 2.3 steals per game.
Sophomore guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough was also named to the first team by the media and coaches, while senior guard Laurin Mincy was named to the coaches’ first team and media’s second team and sophomore center Brionna Jones was named to media’s and coaches’ second team.
The Terrapins (27-2, 18-0 Big Ten) lost five seniors entering this season, including three starters, and still led the conference in scoring at 80.9 points per game. They were the first Big Ten team to go undefeated in conference play since Purdue went 16-0 during the 1998-99 season.
As the top seed in the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament, they’ll face either Michigan or Michigan State in the quarterfinals on Friday in suburban Chicago.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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