ALL-HORIZON BASKETBALL Penguins' Perugini, Branson get honors

The senior earned first-team berth, while the freshman made all-newcomer.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Youngstown State senior Jen Perugini was named to the All-Horizon League first team Monday by a panel of the league's coaches, sports information directors and selected members of the media.
Also, YSU freshman Lauren Branson was named to the league's All-Newcomer team. Both players helped the Penguins to a 12-15 mark, a nine-win improvement from 2003-04.
First in four years
Perugini, who is the first YSU player to earn first team all-league honors since the 2001, ranked second in the Horizon in scoring (14.5 points per game) and led the league in rebounding (10.7). Perugini recorded 13 double-doubles this season, including eight against Horizon opponents.
Perugini was named the Horizon player of the week on Feb. 28. The 6-foot-2 senior averaged 17 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and 76.9 percent at the free throw line in victories over Detroit, 71-68, and UW-Milwaukee, 75-68.
Led league in assists
Branson, a 5-6 point guard, led the Horizon in assists (5.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.77), and ranked 13th in steals (1.63).
She is the first YSU freshman since Perugini was named the 2002 newcomer of the year to receive postseason honors.
UW-Green Bay senior Tiffany Mor was named the Horizon player of the year, and the Phoenix's Kevin Borseth, was named coach of the year. Whitney Lewis of Wright State was named newcomer of the year.
Men's top awards
Senior guard Ed McCants and coach Bruce Pearl of regular season champion UW-Milwaukee were named the Horizon men's player and coach of the year.
Detroit sophomore Brandon Cotton was selected the newcomer of the year.
No Youngstown State men's players received mention.