BRYANT’S KELSEY O’KEEFE NAMED RHODE ISLAND DIVISION I CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Monday, March 29, 2010

BRYANT’S KELSEY O’KEEFE NAMED RHODE ISLAND DIVISION I CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – For the second year in a row senior Kelsey O’Keefe (Warren, Mass.) has been named Rhode Island’s Division I Co-Player of the Year, as voted on by Rhode Island Media. The announcement was made Monday afternoon at the final Cox Media Luncheon of the 2009-10 season.

At the conclusion of the 2009-10 season, the Massachusetts native made Bryant women’s basketball history when she earned the first-ever Northeast Conference postseason accolade, as she capped her record-breaking career with a First Team All-Northeast Conference honor.

Kelsey O'Keefe was named Rhode Island DI Co-Player of the Year for the second season in a row

Now, O’Keefe can add a second Rhode Island Co-Player of the year honor to her mantle. The 6-foot-1 forward shares the award with Providence College’s Chelsea Marandola.

O’Keefe and Head Coach Mary Burke, whom the award is rightfully named after, wrapped-up a memorable 2009-10 season as they guided the Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish in their first campaign with a full NEC schedule. Bryant, ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA DI transition rules, was 13-16 overall and recorded a 10-8 mark in conference play. Led by O’Keefe, the Black and Gold won 10 of its last 16 games and defeated teams such as Monmouth, Quinnipiac, Yale, Central Connecticut and Saint Francis (PA) during the stretch.

O’Keefe finished the year ranked fifth in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game (ppg). In conference games only she averaged 16.9 ppg, good enough for third in the league.

One of the most exciting players to watch on the hardwood, she has recorded the seven highest scoring games in the NEC over the past two seasons. This year, O’Keefe recorded the three highest, including a career-high 34 against Quinnipiac and 33 against both Monmouth and Robert Morris. The senior forward had three of the five 30-point outings in the league this season and registered four double-doubles. She also paced the Bulldogs with eight 20-point performances.

Possibly the most impressive statistic of all, O’Keefe led the conference in free throw shooting, finishing the year at 87 percent.

The All-Decade player led her team in nearly every statistical category: points (15.6 pg), rebounds (6.3 pg), field goal percentage (44.8), field goals made (147) and 3-point field goals made (45).

According to Coach Burke, “Kelsey O’Keefe will go down as arguably the best player in program history.” She closes out an amazing four years ranked third in points scored with 1,797 and fourth in rebounds with 838.

O’Keefe will leave Bryant with her name scattered throughout the record book. She finishes second in field goals made in a career (648), second in 3-point field goals made in a career (162) and first in threes made in a game (8). Her career field goal percentage (45.2) is good enough for fourth all time and her career free throw percentage (79.3) is second best in program history. Finally, O’Keefe finishes tied for fifth in games played (116) and third in minutes with 3,342.

It is safe to say that Kelsey O’Keefe is fully deserving of Rhode Island’s Co-Player of the Year honor.