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Bracey Barker, Ashley Underwood Earn Numerous Awards from America East on Thursday
March 7, 2007 VESTAL, N.Y. - Seniors Bracey Barker and Ashley Underwood each received a pair of awards on Thursday at the 2007 America East Women's Basketball Tournament Awards Banquet at Binghamton University. Barker was a unanimous First-Team All-America East selection, while Underwood was named to the conference's second-team. In addition, both were named to the America East Women's Basketball All-Academic Team. The first-team honor for Barker is the first of her career and the third time she has been named to an All-America East team. A native of Bar Harbor, Maine, she was named to the conference's third-team each of the last two seasons. Barker finished fourth in scoring in America East during the regular season with a 15.1 points per game average. She finished third in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and blocked shots (1.43), and was the only player in America East this season to rank among the top five in all three categories. She led the league in free throw percentage (.927) -- which is also tops in the nation -- and defensive rebounds per game at 5.04. She was named the America East Co-Player of the Week back on Nov. 13, after scoring a team-high 16 points in Maine's season-opening 66-46 victory over William & Mary. Barker becomes the 14th player in school history to earn first-team all-conference honors and the first to do so since Missy Traversi and Kim Corbitt earned the nod in 2005. The second-team honor for Underwood marks the first time in her career she has been named to an All-America East team. A native of Benton, Maine, Underwood finished third in scoring in America East during the regular season with a mark of 15.2 ppg. Her average of 17.1 points per game in conference play was bested only by Stony Brook's Mykeema Ford. Underwood led the league in three-pointers made per game at 2.37 and three-point field goal percentage in conference games (.494). Underwood, who was a nominee for WBCA National Player of the Month for February, was named the America East Player of the Week on Feb. 12, after she scored a career-high 30 points in a victory over Albany on Feb. 7. Underwood becomes the 26th different player in program history to earn at least one all-conference honor. Underwood currently ranks 11th in school history with 1,174 career points, while Barker follows in 12th with 1,144. Underwood needs just two more points to move into the top 10 in school history for career points. Barker is one of just seven players in school history to score over 1,000 points and pull down over 500 rebounds in a career. The academic honors capped what was a spectacular day for the senior duo. Maine was the only school in the conference to have multiple players named to the All-Academic team. Underwood is a nursing major, while Barker majors in kinesiology/health and fitness. Barker and Underwood will lead sixth-seeded Maine against No. 3-seed Vermont on Friday at 2 p.m. (approx.) in the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament.
The game can be heard on the radio throughout the Bangor area on WZON-AM 620, or worldwide on the internet at www.zoneradio.com(.) Fans can also watch the game live for free on the internet at www.AmericaEast.com(.) Streaming video of the contest will be provided by the conference.
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