Albany , N.Y. – Marist’s Rachele Fitz has been named the 2008 Pepsi MAAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, while teammate Erica Allenspach was selected as the Rookie of the Year. Additionally, the Red Foxes’ Lynzee Johnson earned Sixth Player of the Year honors and Tania Kennedy of Saint Peter’s claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Fitz, a 6-0 sophomore forward from Seven Hills, Ohio, finished second in the conference in scoring (18.9 ppg), fourth in rebounding (7.6 rpg), first in field goal percentage (56.4%), and second in free throw percentage (88.1%). Fitz, who was named the Preseason Player of the Year, is in the top 20 in the nation in both field goal and free throw percentage. She has scored in double digits in 29 straight games and has scored at least 20 points in 15 games this year. Fitz, the 2006-07 MAAC Rookie of the Year, became the fastest player in Marist history to reach 1,000 career points. She earned Player of the Week honors five times this season.

Allenspach, a 5-8 guard from Miamisburg , Ohio , led the MAAC in three-point field goal percentage (52%). She finished second on the team in field goal percentage, as she connected on 66 of 128 attempts (52%). Allenspach, a 78% free throw shooter, had a career-high 20 points against Canisius in January. She received MAAC Rookie of the Week honors four times.

Johnson, a 5-10 native of Bellbrook , Ohio , appeared in all 30 games for the Red Foxes, starting 10 of them. She provides versatility off the bench as she is able to play as a guard or a forward. Johnson averages 16.3 minutes per game and contributes 5.9 points per contest and 2.5 rebounds per game. She finished the regular season third for Marist in field goal percentage (48.5%) and fourth in free throw percentage (82.8%).

Kennedy, a 5-5 junior guard from Edison , N.J. , was voted to the 2007-08 All-MAAC First Team. She is a tenacious on-the-ball defender, finishing second in the league in steals with an average of 2.3 per contest. Kennedy is a big component of Saint Peter’s stingy defense that allows just 60.9 points per game, is second in the MAAC in steals (9.62 spg), and first in turnover margin (+4.76).