Buffalo's Christa Baccas named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Sharkey, Loesing also honored

The MAC announced the bulk of this year's postseason Women's Basketball awards, and the release has a strong Buffalo flavor to it, if some questionable results, as well.

Kristen Sharkey was named to the All-MAC Second Team, Mackenzie Loesing the Third Team, and Christa Baccas Honorable Mention. Baccas earned perhaps the highest individual honor of the group as she was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Loesing also received individual recognition, as the junior was named (the curiously-worded) Sixth Player of the Year.

One Bull surprisingly (to me) left off the list was freshman point guard Stephanie Reid. Reid of course only joined the team at the New Year, but I thought she had done enough to squeak onto the Freshman team.

Sharkey, who was near unstoppable this season for UB and really the only consistent offensive threat through a tumultuous season, was named to the conference's second team alongside four big names in CMU's Crystal Bradford, WMU's Miracle Woods, Akron's Anita Brown, and EMU's Cha Sweeney. Frankly, if you had told me preseason that not one of those five would make the First Team, I'd be shocked.

The senior forward from Manahawkin, NJ averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game this season, notching eight double-doubles. I have to really question her not being on the first team. Everyone who did make it had a great case, but Sharkey simply took over stretches of games when everyone knew the ball was coming to her.

This news means I get to do this again:

Loesing's third team nod comes on the heels of a late-season surge after she was forced to the bench by injury midway through the nonconference season. The point totals don't particularly reflect it, but the junior found her old groove late in the season to help the Bulls. Her 13.6 points per game in 26 minutes off the bench also earned her Sixth Player of the Year Honors. Why they can't call it Sixth Woman I have no earthly idea.

Christa Baccas was named All-MAC Honorable Mention, but let's focus on the more prestigious award: MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Of course, Christa is one of the best in conference history in blocks, but was also fourth in the MAC in steals and seventh in rebounding this season while playing nearly 33 minutes a night in the low post.

Baccas is the third Bull to receive DPOY honors, after Sonia Ortega and Kourtney Brown.

I may have more on Reid and Sharkey tomorrow, but for now, congrats are in order to Kristen, Mackenzie, and Christa! On to Cleveland!

2014-15 All-Mid-American Conference First Team

Sina King, Akron, F
Nathalie Fontaine, Ball State, F
Amanda Corral, Northern Illinois, G
Kiyanna Black, Ohio, G
Inma Zanoguera, Toledo, G

2014-15 All-Mid-American Conference Second Team
Anita Brown, Akron, G
Kristen Sharkey, Buffalo, F
Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan, G/F
Cha Sweeney, Eastern Michigan, G
Miracle Woods, Western Michigan, F/C

2014-15 All-Mid-American Conference Third Team
Hannah Plybon, Akron, G
Jill Morrison, Ball State, G
Mackenzie Loesing, Buffalo, G
CiCi Shannon, Kent State, C
Quiera Lampkins, Ohio, F

2014-15 All-Mid-American Conference Honorable Mention
Deborah Hoekstra, Bowling Green, G
Christa Baccas, Buffalo, C/F
Da'Jourie Turner, Central Michigan, G
Mariah Byard, Ohio, G
Brenae Harris, Toledo, G

2014-15 Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team
Kerri McMahan, Akron, G
Moriah Monaco, Ball State, G
Baleigh Reid, Miami, G
Kelly Smith, Northern Illinois, F
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo, G

2014-15 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Christa Baccas, Buffalo, C/F

2014-15 Mid-American Conference Sixth Player of the Year
Mackenzie Loesing, Buffalo, G