Butterfield named GNAC Rookie of the Year
(Boston, Mass.) The Great Northeast Athletic Conference has announced the 2013-14 All-GNAC Women's Basketball Teams and Major Award winners. Rivier University freshman Savannah Butterfield (Londonderry, NH) was named the GNAC Rookie of the Year while junior Deanna Purcell (Hudson, NH) was selected to the Frist Team and senior AJ Guidi (Derry, NH) was tabbed a Third Team selection.
Butterfield averaged 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game to rank second on the Raiders squad in each category. The rookie posted 14 double-digit scoring contests and three double-doubles on the year. The freshman forward added 47 assists, 40 blocks and 32 steals.
Butterfield becomes to second Raider to earn GNAC Rookie of the Year honors in three seasons.
The other Rivier ROY recipient was Purcell who was named to her third straight All-Conference First Team. Purcell led the Raiders with 18.1 points per game average and collected 6.1 rebounds per game. She totaled 488 points over the season and led the Raiders to a 9-2 GNAC record. The junior recorded a .471 shooting percentage and drained 35 three pointers – second most on the team.
Guidi hit the most three pointers for Rivier with 53 as she shot .368 from beyond the arc. For her efforts, Guidi was named to the All-Conference Third Team for the second consecutive season. The 5-9 guard totaled 239 points and collected 107 rebounds for Rivier this season.
The Raiders will look to make a run in the upcoming ECAC Tournament. They travel to fourth seeded Smith College on Wednesday evening in the Quarterfinals.
