EDISON, NJ – After finishing the regular season with a 22-7 overall record and a 16-4 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, the Rider University women's basketball team saw four players earn All-MAAC honors as announced on Monday afternoon by the league office.
Senior guard
Robin Perkins (Willingboro, NJ/Saint Francis (Pa.)/Trenton Catholic) landed on the first team, junior guard
Kamila Hoskova (Brno, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) was named Second Team All-MAAC, senior center
Julia Duggan (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City) received third-team distinction and freshman guard
Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) earned All-Rookie team honors.
The four players earning All-MAAC honors is a new program record for Rider as the team saw three players receive league-wide distinction in 2012-13, 2001-02 and 1999-2000. The four players honored by the league is the most by any team in the conference this year, with Quinnipiac being the next closest with three players earn All-MAAC honors.
“I am extremely proud and thrilled that these four young ladies have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to this program,” Rider University Head Coach
Lynn Milligan said. “It is a credit to this entire team and what we have been able to accomplish this season thus far. The depth and balance of this team is one of our greatest strength and these young ladies represent that strength.”
Perkins was the only unanimous First Team All-MAAC selection this season and she landed on the first team for the second year in a row. By receiving first-team honors, she is now a finalist for the MAAC Player of the Year. The senior guard averaged 15.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 25 starts, her numbers in conference play were even more impressive as she poured in over 16 points per game. She shot 42.6 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three-point range. Perkins knocked down 52 triples, the sixth most in the MAAC this season.
Perkins ranked fourth in the MAAC in scoring and 11th in three-point field goal percentage. On December 30, she scored a career-high 33 points against Quinnipiac. The 33-point outburst was the fourth-most points scored in a game by a MAAC Women's Basketball Player this season and gave her over 1,000 career points. She was named MAAC Player of the Week twice this season and she also earned Met Basketball Writers Association Division I Basketball Player of the Week once this season. She scored her 1,000th point at Rider earlier this season and currently is 10 points shy of 10th on the program's all-time scoring list.
“Robin has been a prolific scorer since she came into our program,” Milligan added. “This season she was able to continue to grow her game at both ends of the floor. With her versatility she single handily put this team on her back in many games this season. She wants the big shot and has stepped up on numerous occasions throughout the season to lead us to a win.”
In her third year with the team, Hoskova received postseason honors for the first time with her Second Team All-MAAC selection. She started all 29 games during the regular season for the Broncs, while averaging 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Hoskova ranked sixth in the MAAC in free-throw percentage, knocking down 78.2 percent (93-119) from the charity stripe. She also ranked ninth in the league in field-goal percentage, hitting over 46 percent (122-265) of her shots from the field.
Hoskova has twice been named the College Sports Madness MAAC Player of the Week this season. During her breakout campaign, she recorded three double-doubles and poured in 20 or more points in a game five times.
“Kamila has worked so hard to improve her game,” Milligan stated. “She has made herself into one of the better all-around players in the MAAC. She is willing to do whatever her team needs on a daily basis to be successful. She is truly a selfless player whether she is scoring, rebounding, or getting every 50/50 ball. She has a mentality to just get it done.”
In her final season in Lawrenceville, Duggan earned league-wide accolades for the second time in her career after being named to the All-Rookie Team during the 2013-14 season. She ended the regular season averaging over 11 points and eight rebounds per game. Duggan ended the year by recording three straight double-doubles and she enters the MAAC Tournament tied for tops in the league with 10 double-doubles on the year.
Duggan's been a constant contributor for the Broncs over her last four years and she currently ranks second in program history with 120 games played. She is also sixth in Rider history with 786 career rebounds. In the MAAC this season, she is tied for second in the league in rebounding, sixth in steals per game (1.8) and 12th in field-goal percentage (.460). Duggan has grabbed seven or more rebounds 18 times.
“Julia saved her best for last,” Milligan noted. “She has had an outstanding senior season leading her team. She expanded her game this season and it paid off for her and us. She can score, rebound and defend in the paint and has the confidence in her teammates to make them better.”
Johnson became the first Bronc to land on the All-Rookie Team since Duggan three years ago. By earning All-Rookie Team honors, she is now a finalist for MAAC Rookie of the Year. She averaged 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game for Rider. She shot 51.1 percent from the field, which led all freshmen and was second overall in the MAAC. She also led freshmen and ranked third in the league in steals per game (2.8). Prior to games being played on Sunday, February 26, Johnson ranked 24th in the nation in steals per game.
Earlier this season she set a Rider program record with eight steals against Lafayette College on November 14. She was named MAAC Rookie of the Week twice and also earned the USBWA Freshman of the Week honor once. Johnson was a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie Team. Down the stretch in the regular season, she scored in double figures in six of her last eight games. During that time she also recorded five or more steals in a game three times. For the season, she registered four or more steals in a game 10 times.
“Stella has had an amazing freshman season,” Milligan said. “She doesn't play like a rookie and hasn't all season. Her versatility is unmatched. She can fill every column of a stat sheet. She is truly a two-way player that defends, rebounds, can pass, get steals and score. Whatever her team needs she will do.”
The Broncs will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament and will return to action on Friday, March 3, at 3:30 pm at the Times Union Center in Albany against the winner of No. 7 Monmouth and No. 10 Manhattan match-up. Rider swept the regular season series versus both the Hawks and the Jaspers.
All-MAAC First Team
