March 9, 2009
Official All-Big West Conference release in PDF Format 
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Davis sophomore Paige Mintun was named to the All-Big West Conference women's basketball first team on Monday morning, and Lauren Juric was selected the league's Freshman of the Year while joining Kasey Riecks on the All-Freshman team and all-conference honorable mention squad.
The all-conference selections were announced in anticipation of the Big West Tournament which begins on Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center. Fifth-seeded UC Davis faces eighth-seeded Cal State Northridge at noon on Wednesday in the first round.
Mintun, a 6-foot-2 post from Valley Center, Calif., led the Aggies in scoring (13.0 ppg), rebounding (6.2 rpg), assists (67) and blocks (31) during the regular season and was tied for the team lead in steals (44). Hovering above 80 percent from the line for most of the season, Mintun is currently at 78.9 percent.
Mintun recorded one of her best games as an Aggie on Jan. 4 in UC Davis' 86-66 home win over Cal State Northridge, picking up her first career double-double with a career-best 25 points to go with 10 rebounds, seven assists, six steals and three blocked shots. She ranked among the league's top 10 in eight different stat categories for conference games.
"I think Paige's honor is recognition from other coaches in the league that when you start to prepare for UC Davis you have to really look for Paige," said Aggie coach Sandy Simpson. "We're a balanced team but I think you start with Paige and see if you can stop her. Nobody's really managed to do it yet but that has to be your thought.
"She's strong in all phases of the game, offensively and defensively, and she did a good job on the boards," he added. "To get first team all-conference in a nine-team conference is quite an honor because there are only so many spots to go around."
Juric, a 6-2 redshirt freshman from Bear River High School in Grass Valley, started 27 games, averaging 8.5 ppg. and 5.5 rpg. while shooting a league-best 46.5 percent from three-point territory during the conference's 16-game season. She was particularly effective from beyond the arc during a two-game roadtrip to UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly in January where she made six straight before finishing 6 for 7 for the weekend.
Juric posted a pair of double-doubles during her first year on the court, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds at Sacramento State in December and then adding 14 points and 12 boards in an overtime loss to UC Riverside on Feb. 7. She capped the regular season with 10 rebounds at Cal State Northridge last Wednesday, also making two free throws in the final seconds during the critical 53-50 win.
"I think Lauren is most deserving of this Big West Conference honor," said Simpson. "I thought her rebounding was terrific down the stretch of conference play. I think opposing coaches recognize the value she has for our team. She's very deserving among a very good group of freshmen."
Riecks, a 6-0 wing from Placer High School in Auburn, is a true freshman and the only Aggie to start all 28 games during the regular season. She finished it averaging 8.8 ppg. and 3.1 rpg., while making 24 three-pointers and shooting 73.2 percent from the line.
Ricks, scored a season-high 17 points against Cal State Fullerton in January and twice added 16 points, including during a 58-39 win over Pacific in late February. She's shooting 45 percent from the floor and averaged a team-high 31.3 minutes per game.
"It's a particular accomplishment for a true freshman to make the All-Freshman team," Simpson said. "But Kasey's been a stalwart for us since game one this year. She's started every game and has probably been one of our most consistent performers, if not the most consistent performer, throughout the year."
Mintun was joined on the All-Big West first team by Jenna Green and Lauren Pedersen of UC Santa Barbara, Big West Player of the Year Kemie Nkele from UC Riverside, Kristina Santiago of Cal Poly and Amber Simmons of Pacific.
Other league players to earn All-Freshman honors were Jasmine Erving of Cal State Northridge, Emilie Johnson of UCSB, Megan Richardson of Cal State Fullerton and Adelle Walton of Long Beach State.
UCSB's Lindsay Gottlieb, who in her first year led the Gauchos to the Big West's regular-season title and the No. 1 seed at this week's tournament, was named the Coach of the Year.
