HASSELL, HOLT NAMED OVC's TOP PLAYERS

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- Austin Peay forward Trenton Hassell, who averages 21.6 points a game, was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year on Tuesday.

Hassell, a 6-foot-5 senior from Clarksville, ranks third in scoring and is in the top 15 in eight league categories. He was selected by OVC coaches and sports information directors.

In addition to Hassell, the All-OVC team includes guard Kyle Hill and forward Henry Domercant of Eastern Illinois, forward Isaac Spencer of Murray State, and forward Larrie Smith of Tennessee Tech.

Tennessee-Martin forward Brian Foster was named the conference Newcomer of the Year, Morehead State guard/forward Ricky Minard the Freshman of the Year, and Tennessee Tech's Jeff Lobo the Coach of the Year.

In women's action, Janet Holt of Tennessee Tech was named OVC Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Joining her on the All-OVC Team were Austin Peay's Brooke Armistead, Tennessee State's Angela Hassell, Murray State's Monika Gadson, and Southeast Missouri's Lori Chase.

The awards will be presented Thursday, one day before the semifinals and finals of the OVC Basketball Tournament at Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center.

During his career, Hassell recorded 21 double-doubles and three triple-doubles. He is the fourth Governor to be named to the honor.

Foster, a 6-foot-5 junior from Ironton, Mo., ranks fourth in field-goal percentage for the league at 52.2 percent. He was 13th in the conference scoring with 13.7 points per game.

Minard, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward from Mansfield, Ohio, ranks among the OVC's top 15 players in 15 categories. He is eighth in the league in scoring with 16.9 points per game.

In his third year at Tennessee Tech, Lebo guided Tennessee Tech to its first OVC regular-season basketball title since 1984-85, and grabbed Coach of the Year honor for the second straight year. The Golden Eagles ended the regular season with a 19-8 overall record.

* Chase, the lone underclassman on the first team, is Southeast's leading scorer at 14.7 point per game which ranks 10th in the league. She ranks sixth in the conference in free-throw percentage at 84.5 percent and ninth in rebounding at 6.5 rebounds per game.

* Southeast point guard Michael Stokes, named to the second team, was the lone Indian to be recognized. Stokes led Southeast in scoring (14.9 ppg), assists and steals.

The All-Ohio Valley Conference Team as selected by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

MEN

FIRST TEAM:

Trenton Hassell, Austin Peay

Kyle Hill, Eastern Illinois

Isaac Spencer, Murray State

Larrie Smith, Tennessee Tech

Henry Domercant, Eastern Illinois.

SECOND TEAM:

Michael Stokes, Southeast Missouri

Jamie Roberts, Tennessee State

Joe Williams, Austin Peay

Nick Stapleton, Austin Peay

Brian Foster, Tennessee-Martin

Matt Britton, Eastern Illinois

Ricky Minard, Morehead State.

THIRD TEAM:

Leigh Gayden, Tennessee Tech

Justin Burdine, Murray State

Lavoris Jerry, Eastern Kentucky

Brent Jolly, Tennessee Tech

Kyle Umberger, Morehead State.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Okechi Egbe, Tennessee-Martin

Emmanuel McCuthison, Southeast Missouri Antione Whelchel, Murray StateGarrett Richardson, Tennessee State

WOMEN

FIRST TEAM:

Janet Holt, Tennessee Tech

Brooke Armistead, Austin Peay

Angela Hassell, Tennessee State

Monika Gadson, Murray State

Lori Chase, Southeast Missouri

SECOND TEAM:

Charlotte Sizemore, Eastern Kentucky

Kelly Pendleton, Tennessee-Martin

Allison Clark, Tennessee Tech

Candice Finley, Eastern Kentucky

Misty Garrett, Tennessee Tech

HONORABLE MENTION:

Tasha Gales, Morehead StateJocelyn Duke, Austin PeayPaige Smith, Austin PeayRenee Schaul, Eastern Illinois Travece Turner, Morehead State.