Mathews Repeats as SCAC's Top Defender; Huffman Shares Coach of the Year Honors

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February 26, 2011

February 26, 2011, Jackson, Miss. —  In voting by the conference's 12 head coaches, five DePauw players earned all-conference recognition by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Senior guard Katie Mathews (pictured) was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and the fifth time in the last six seasons a DePauw player has earned the distinction. Mathews was a key component of the Tigers allowing just 50.1 points per game which is on pace to set the DePauw and SCAC records.

Huffman, in her 18th season as the Tigers' head coach, shared the honor with Millsaps' Chuck Winkelman. Prior to the tournament, Huffman led the Tigers to a 22-3 record for DePauw's 10th straight 20-win season and 14th in the last 15 seasons. 

A seven-time SCAC Coach of the Year and two-time WBCA National Coach of the Year, Huffman directed the Tigers to wins in their last 63 SCAC home games and she will exit the conference with the highest winning percentage (.802 entering the tournament) of any coach – active or non-active – who has been in the league five or more years.

Mathews was DePauw's lone first team selection as she finished third in all-conference voting and picked up one player of the year vote. She entered the tournament as the Tigers' second-leading scorer with 12.0 points per game and leads the way with 3.9 assists. She also ranked second in Division III with a 2.94 assist-to-turnover ratio. Mathews earned third team honors in 2009.

Junior forward Katie Aldrich was voted to the second team and also picked up a player of the year vote. Aldrich leads the team with 13.5 points per game and is second with 5.9 rebounds per contest. She also leads the squad with 54.0 percent shooting from the floor. Aldrich was a third team selection last year.

Sophomore forward Ellie Pearson was chosen to the third team after scoring 9.2 points per game and leading the Tigers with 9.4 rebounds.

Senior guard Lauren Goff and sophomore guard Kate Walker each earned honorable mention.

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