Northwestern University Athletics
Nia Coffey Tabbed for Preseason All-Big Ten Team
10/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Northwestern sophomore forward Nia Coffey (Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins) has been named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, as selected by the head coaches, the conference announced Thursday morning in advance of Big Ten Media Day.
The only forward on this year's five-player squad, Coffey became the first-ever Wildcat to earn All-Big Ten first team honors (coaches) at the end of her inaugural season in Evanston. She was also a second-team selection by the media and a member of the 2014 Big Ten All-Freshman Team. The Minneapolis native was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and the conference's Player of the Week once last season.
Coffey, who started 31 games as a true freshman, was the only Big Ten player to rank in the conference's top 10 in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg) and blocks (1.8 bpg) a year ago. She scored at least 10 points in 25 of 32 games that she played and poured in 20-plus points on a team-best eight occasions. Coffey also pulled down 10 rebounds or more 11 times, while recording eight double-doubles, a number that ranked her eighth in NU single-season history. The forward's 59 blocks were the fifth-most in a single campaign and they helped Northwestern break the Big Ten team record with 220 rejections in 33 games
Northwestern won 17 games in 2013-14 and advanced to the third round of the WNIT. The Wildcats return all five starters this season, including Coffey and her classmates Ashley Deary and Christen Inman. Junior Maggie Lyon, the 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and senior Alex Cohen are also back in the fold for head coach Joe McKeown, who begins his seventh season at the helm.
The Wildcats hit the floor for the first time at Welsh-Ryan Arena for an exhibition game against UW-Parkside on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. The regular season opens on Friday, Nov. 14 when the 'Cats make the short tip to face the Chicago State Cougars on the city's south side at 7:05 p.m. Northwestern will host the first of three consecutive home games on Sunday, Nov. 16 against Hampton University at 2 p.m.
Here is a complete look at the Preseason All-Big Ten teams and rankings from both the coaches and media:
2014-15 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Samantha Logic, Sr., G, Iowa
Aerial Powers, So., G, Michigan State
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota
Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, Nebraska
Nia Coffey, So., F, Northwestern
2014-15 Coaches Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Iowa
2014-15 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team*
Samantha Logic, Sr., G, Iowa
Lexie Brown, So., G, Maryland
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota
Amanda Zahui B., So., C, Minnesota
Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, Nebraska
Ameryst Alston, Jr., G, Ohio State
* Six players recognized due to a tie
2014-15 Media Big Ten Preseason Rankings
1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Nebraska
2014-15 Coaches & Media Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota
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