March 2, 2009

San Bruno, CA - Freshman Alex Cowling became the fourth LMU player to be named the West Coast Conference Newcomer of Year, taking home the honor as the conference announced its postseason awards on Monday. Cowling was also named to the Honorable Mention team, as was senior Cassady Moore, while sophomore Renahy Young was a First Team selection.

Alex Cowling (Photo by Scott Cunningham)

Cowling (Benicia, CA) was the Lions' leading scorer in conference play, averaging 14.2 points per game while shooting a WCC-best 55.9% from the floor. She was an efficient shooter all-around, sinking 46% of her three-point attempts and 86% of her free throws while grabbing 5.9 rebounds per game, including 43 on the offensive end. She was LMU's top scorer in seven WCC contests, including each of the last five, and reached double figures in 11 of the 14 games, topping 20 points three times. For the season, Cowling set a new LMU freshman record with 383 points, an average of 13.7 per game and earned All-Tournament honors at the Courtyard by Marriott L.A. Westside Holiday Tournament. She was the WCC Player of the Week for December 8-14 and is ranked 12th nationally, and the top freshman, in overall shooting percentage at 56.9%.

Cowling is the first LMU player to be named WCC Newcomer of the Year since Ashlee Dunlap in 2005-06. She joins Sheri Brown (1992-93) and Nicole Gaines (1995-96) as the only other Lions to win the award. Amy Lundquist was the conference Freshman of the Year in 1992-93, before the awards were combined.

Renahy Young (Photo by Scott Cunningham)

An Honorable Mention selection last year, Young (Torrance, CA) makes her first appearance on the First Team after leading LMU in overall scoring with a 14.3 ppg average, the second straight year in which she has led the team in scoring. Young started the year as the only Lion on the WCC Pre-season All-Conference team, then scored a career-high 31 points on November 15 against Arizona. That was one of five 20-point outings as she scored in double figures in 20 games overall. Young has collected numerous awards this year, having been named the tournament Most Valuable Player at the LMU/Ayres Hotel Thanksgiving Classic and All-Tournament at the Courtyard by Marriott Holiday L.A. Westside Tournament and the Bank of Hawai'i Invitational. She was also the WCC Player of the Week for January 12-18 and the co-Player of the Week for February 9-15. She is the first Lion to be named First Team All-WCC since Amanda Patton in 2006-07.

Moore (Long Beach, CA) rounds out LMU's trio of award winners, having earned a place on the Honorable Mention team for the first time in her career. The only Lion senior on the court this season, Moore was LMU's third leading scorer at a career-high 11.4 ppg (11.9 ppg in WCC play) while leading the team in steals (72) and assists (88). Her 2.6 steals per game rank 37th nationally. Offensively, she reached double figures in 11 WCC games and 20 games overall, including matching her career-high with 22 points against Gonzaga. She was the WCC Player of the Week for December 1-7 and earned All-Tournament honors at the Bank of Hawai'i Invitational and the LMU/Ayres Hotels Thanksgiving Classic.

Cassady Moore (Photo by Scott Cunningham)

LMU heads to Las Vegas for next week's West Coast Conference Tournament, which will be held at a neutral site for the first time in history. The Lions will have a bye until the quarterfinals at 12 noon on Saturday and will face the winner of Friday's Saint Mary's-Santa Clara first-round game.

- GO LIONS -