Humphries and Bellman Earn BIG EAST Awards

March 3, 2006

HARTFORD, Conn. -- University of Cincinnati guards Treasure Humphries and Shelly Bellman were honored on Friday night when the BIG EAST Conference handed out its postseason awards.

Humphries, a junior from Canton, Ohio, was named to the 10-person All-BIG EAST Second Team after leading the Bearcats in points, steals and assists. She averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 steals and 3.7 assists per game, scoring in double-figures 19 times and over 20 points five times. Humphries ranked third in the BIG EAST in steals, eighth in free throw percentage (.733), 11th in assists and 17th in scoring. On Jan. 25, she set a school-record by handing out 14 assists in a win over Georgetown.

Bellman was named to the five-member All-Freshman Team. The native of Ottawa, Ohio led UC in rebounding (6.1 rpg), ranked second in steals (1.4 spg) and scoring (10.5 ppg) and was third in assists (2.5 apg). She was one of four players to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors twice during the season. Bellman led UC in scoring in BIG EAST games and recorded 20 or more points in three league games, including 28 against St. John's.

The 11th-seeded Bearcats open play in their first BIG EAST Championship on Saturday, March 4 when they take on the sixth-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers at 8 p.m. at the Hartford Civic Center. They finished the regular season 17-10 and were 7-9 in the BIG EAST.

2005-06 BIG EAST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR SEASON AWARD WINNERS*BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers
BIG EAST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Renee Montgomery, ConnecticutBIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR - Kim Barnes Arico, St. John'sBIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Essence Carson, RutgersMOST IMPROVED PLAYER - Mel Thomas, ConnecticutSPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Carolyn Kieger, MarquetteBIG EAST/AEROPOSTALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE - Megan Duffy, Notre DameALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM School Cl. Pos. Hometown High SchoolMatee Ajavon Rutgers So. G Newark, N.J. Malcolm X ShabazzAngela Clark St. John's Jr. F Copiague, N.Y. CopiagueJazz Covington Louisville Jr. C Adel, Ga. Cook*Jessica Dickson USF Jr. F Ocala, Fla. Vanguard*Megan Duffy Notre Dame Sr. G Dayton, Ohio Chaminade-JulienneCappie Pondexter Rutgers Sr. G Chicago, Ill. John Marshall*Khara Smith DePaul Sr. F Hillside, Ill. Proviso WestAnn Strother Connecticut Sr. F Castle Rock, Colo. Highlands RanchLiad Suez-Karni Villanova Sr. F Even-Yehuda, Israel OstrovskyMarcedes Walker Pittsburgh So. C Philadelphia, Pa. University CityKia Wright St. John's Jr. G Copiague, N.Y. CopiagueALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM#Meg Bulger West Virginia Jr. G Pittsburgh, Pa. Oakland CatholicEssence Carson Rutgers So. G Paterson, N.J. Rosa ParksKrystal Ellis Marquette Fr. G Racine, Wis. St. Catherine'sChelsea Marandola Providence Fr. G Johnston, R.I. JohnstonAngel McCoughtry Louisville Fr. F Baltimore, Md. Patterson SchoolRenee Montgomery Connecticut Fr. G St. Albans, W.Va. South Charleston* - unanimous selection# - Due to a tie in voting, an extra member has been added to the second team