April 20, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Highlighted by Big 5 Rookie of the Year Hillary Klimowicz, four Saint Joseph's women's basketball players earned Big 5 postseason honors, the Big 5 announced Wednesday night at its annual awards banquet. Junior guard Ayahna Cornish and senior forward Faith Schutte were both named to the Big 5 Second Team, while senior Maura McBryan was selected to the All-Academic Team.

Making an immediate impact for the Hawks as a rookie, Klimowicz led the Hawks in rebounds (7.3 per game) and blocks (60), while ranking third in scoring at 8.9points per game. The 6-foot-2 center, who garnered Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Honors in March, was named to the 15th Annual Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team. Her 60 blocks this season rank 10th all-time in Saint Joseph's program history and is the second highest single-season mark for a Hawk. Klimowicz is the fourth Hawk to earn Big Rookie of the Year, joining Sue Bostick (1991), Susan Moran (1999), and current sophomore Erica Pollock (2005).

The 2005-06 season was a breakout year for Cornish as she led the Hawks in scoring (12.1 points per game), assists (2.36 per game) and steals (1.55 spg) before suffering a season-ending ACL tear at Massachusetts on February 5. Ranking among the league leaders in scoring, Cornish led the Hawks to the 11th Annual Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic title in December. The shooting guard was named MVP after scoring 12 of her team-high 20 points in the second half of the title game.

Helping the Hawks to the nation's best turnaround of 13 games and an appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, Schutte averaged a career-best 9.7 points per game and finished second on the team in rebounding at 5.0 boards per contest. A 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team selection and Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team member, Schutte was named to the 2005 Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team this past December after averaging 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and helping the Hawks to the tournament title.

A history major with a 3.86 GPA, McBryan earns her first Big 5 All-Academic Team honor. A two-time, ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Team selection, McBryan finished her senior season averaging 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. A 2004-05 Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team and 2004 Dead River Classic All-Tournament Team selections, McBryan is a seven-time Saint Joseph's University Athletic Director's Honor Roll and five-time member of the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll member.