BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) has announced its year-end honors and Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Amber Legare has been named to the All-Conference Second Team. Legare was one of just two players in the NEWMAC this season to average a double-double. As a team, the Lyons were also recognized by the conference's coaches with this year's Sportsmanship Award.
A junior forward out of Chicopee, Mass., Legare averaged 14.7 points and a conference-best 11.2 rebounds per contests as a starter in 24 of 25 games for the Lyons. She also chipped in with 28 assists, 30 blocks and 38 steals, while averaging 34.0 minutes per contest. Legare shot a team-high 60.7% (68-112) from free throw range and also had a squad-best 40.9% (149-364) mark from the field.
Among the NEWMAC's best, Legare finished in a tie for third in points, while also leading the conference in rebounding average. She was also sixth in overall points (367), while ranking second in field goals. Additionally, Legare was fifth in minutes played per contest.
Legare concluded her junior campaign having recorded 10 or more points in 21 of 25 games, including four with 20 or more points. Additionally, she pulled down 10 or more rebounds in 14 games, including a single-game record 26 in a 68-60 win against Emerson on February 15. The previous mark of 25 had stood since 1985-86, set by Elise Cromack.
Overall, Legare's season rebounding total of 281 was just shy of tying the all-time season mark. She was just 15 boards from Cromack's total of 296, set in 1986-87. Her overall point total of 367 ranked ninth all-time in program history and she also posted the sixth-best mark of field goals made with 149.
Among the other accolades Legare collected in 2013-14 included Tournament Most Valuable Player honors at the Mariner Pepsi Classic, where she posted a two-game total of 31 points and 23 rebounds. She earned NEWMAC Player of the Week recognition following that performance.
Other standout games on the season for Legare included a 21 point and 19 rebound effort in a 69-59 loss at Clark (11/26). She recorded 14 points and 13 caroms with two blocks in a 63-56 overtime loss at WPI (1/19) and also laid down 23 points and 13 rebounds in a 61-59 victory at Clark (1/25).
Of Legare's 14 double-doubles throughout the season, 10 came during the second half of the year against NEWMAC opponents. She posted five double-doubles in a row between January 11 and January 25 before recording another five game stretch between February 1 and February 19.
Mount Holyoke finished the season with 6-19 overall record. The Lyons went 3-17 in NEWMAC play.
2014 Women's Basketball All-Conference Team and Award Winners
NEWMAC Athlete of the Year:
Leslie Leong, Wellesley
NEWMAC Rookie of the Year:
Giovanna Pickering, Babson
NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player:
Jamie Bickelhaupt, Springfield
NEWMAC Coach of the Year:
Melissa Hodgdon, Wheaton
NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award:
Mount Holyoke College
First Team All-Conference
Rosa Drummond, Smith
Paulina Solis, Smith
Jamie Bickelhaupt, Springfield
Leslie Leong, Wellesley
Kiley Shoemaker, Wheaton
Second Team All-Conference
Linnett Graber, Babson
Torie Sutherland, Coast Guard
Sabrina Drammis, MIT
Mari Kordell, MIT
Amber Legare, Mount Holyoke
