Northwestern University Athletics
Four Wildcats Earn All-Big Ten Honors
2/29/2016 5:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill -- Four members of the Northwestern women's basketball team collected conference hardware, the Big Ten announced on Big Ten Network on the Women's Sports Report Monday night.
Junior Ashley Deary led the way for the Wildcats, earning an All-B1G Honorable Mention (media) nod, an All-Defensive Team honor, and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year – the first in Northwestern history.
Additionally, Nia Coffey secured a spot on the All-B1G First Team (Media/Coaches), Maggie Lyon was named All-B1G Honorable Mention (Media/Coaches), and Christen Johnson was recognized as Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
Deary, who was named to the B1G All-Defensive Team as a sophomore, leads the country in steals (4.34 spg), and broke Northwestern's all-time career steals record this season with 237 total steals. After accumulating 125 steals through 29 games this year, Deary shattered the Big Ten's single-season steals record – a league mark that has stood for 20 years. The junior guard has recorded 17 double-digit scoring games during, and tallied four double-doubles this season.
Coffey, who was recently named to the John R. Wooden Late Season Top 20, is the only player in the Big Ten with double digit points and rebounds. The forward is tied for first in the Big Ten with 15 double-doubles and is the only Big Ten player to rank among the league's top 10 in points (19.7 ppg), rebounds (10.3 rpg) and blocks (1.8 bpg).
Coffey finished the regular season averaging a team-best 19.7 points per game and has scored in double-figures in 45-straight games, dating back to last season. Coffey has registered sixteen 20+-point performances this year and has led the team in scoring on 17 occasions.
Lyon helped to rewrite the Northwestern record book after breaking NU's career 3-point record at Minnesota on Jan. 20. The two-time co-captain is Northwestern's active leading scorer with 1,693 career points, ranking sixth on the Wildcats' all-time scoring list. She also ranks fourth on the Big Ten's career active scoring list, placing her among the league's top 15 in scoring this season. Lyon has received All-Big Ten honorable mention in each year of her career.
A native of Powder Springs, Georgia, Christen Johnson has been an integral part of the Wildcats' squad over the last four years. The senior forward is a two-time captain for the Wildcats and has appeared in 58 games since arriving in Evanston in 2012. The senior forward is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and is a double major in journalism and African American studies.
The Wildcats will open the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 2, in Indianapolis, facing the 13th-seeded Wisconsin Badgers at 12:30 p.m. CST on the Big Ten Network.
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Junior Ashley Deary led the way for the Wildcats, earning an All-B1G Honorable Mention (media) nod, an All-Defensive Team honor, and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year – the first in Northwestern history.
Additionally, Nia Coffey secured a spot on the All-B1G First Team (Media/Coaches), Maggie Lyon was named All-B1G Honorable Mention (Media/Coaches), and Christen Johnson was recognized as Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
Deary, who was named to the B1G All-Defensive Team as a sophomore, leads the country in steals (4.34 spg), and broke Northwestern's all-time career steals record this season with 237 total steals. After accumulating 125 steals through 29 games this year, Deary shattered the Big Ten's single-season steals record – a league mark that has stood for 20 years. The junior guard has recorded 17 double-digit scoring games during, and tallied four double-doubles this season.
Coffey, who was recently named to the John R. Wooden Late Season Top 20, is the only player in the Big Ten with double digit points and rebounds. The forward is tied for first in the Big Ten with 15 double-doubles and is the only Big Ten player to rank among the league's top 10 in points (19.7 ppg), rebounds (10.3 rpg) and blocks (1.8 bpg).
Coffey finished the regular season averaging a team-best 19.7 points per game and has scored in double-figures in 45-straight games, dating back to last season. Coffey has registered sixteen 20+-point performances this year and has led the team in scoring on 17 occasions.
Lyon helped to rewrite the Northwestern record book after breaking NU's career 3-point record at Minnesota on Jan. 20. The two-time co-captain is Northwestern's active leading scorer with 1,693 career points, ranking sixth on the Wildcats' all-time scoring list. She also ranks fourth on the Big Ten's career active scoring list, placing her among the league's top 15 in scoring this season. Lyon has received All-Big Ten honorable mention in each year of her career.
A native of Powder Springs, Georgia, Christen Johnson has been an integral part of the Wildcats' squad over the last four years. The senior forward is a two-time captain for the Wildcats and has appeared in 58 games since arriving in Evanston in 2012. The senior forward is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and is a double major in journalism and African American studies.
The Wildcats will open the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 2, in Indianapolis, facing the 13th-seeded Wisconsin Badgers at 12:30 p.m. CST on the Big Ten Network.
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Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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