Trio of Panthers, Jue honored by Independents

ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University women's basketball team reached the NCAA Division III postseason tournament for the ninth consecutive year in 2008-09. In honor of that feat, and leading the Panthers to a 20-9 overall record, head coach Carol Jue was named Association of Division III Independents Women's Basketball Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. She last earned the award in 2004-05.

Three Chapman players, including its starting backcourt, were selected to the All-Independent team, selected by the women's basketball coaches from AD3I member schools. Senior G Lauren Kamiyama, junior G Linda Ly and senior C Andrijana Kerkez were honored.

Kamiyama was named to the All-Independent first team for the second straight year and it was her third overall selection. The senior became Chapman's all-time assists leader in 2009 with 424 in her career. She averaged 9.7 points and led the team with 86 steals and 50 three-pointers.

Ly earned All-Independent honors for the fifth time in her career (two for basketball, three for volleyball). The junior was selected to the second team after she led the Panthers with 11.1 points per game and scored in double figures 20 times this season. She added 70 assists as well.

After averaging 8.1 points and 7.8 assists, Kerkez was named honorable mention for the first time in her career. The senior led the Panthers with four double-doubles.

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 17 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2008-09. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. For more information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.