After going 1-24 in 2011-12, the Bard College women's basketball team needed something to change.
The Raptors needed a game-changer, a dominant star. Someone who could help Bard take a step toward respectability.
Enter
Tytravia Riley.
The freshman capped a fine first season at Bard by being named Co-Rookie of the Year in the Liberty League in the results of coaches' voting released on Thursday. She was also named to the All-Rookie Team and All-Liberty League Honorable Mention.
"What didn't she do?" Bard coach Sarah Lombard said, referring to Riley's impact on the team. "We went from losing games by 50 to giving people a run for their money ... we got our first Liberty League win, and without her, that's not possible."
Riley led all of NCAA Div. III in rebounding for much of the season and is currently second in that category with 15.2 rebounds per game. Her season is over, but some of the other players on the list are still playing. Riley is also currently tied for third place nationally with 20 double-doubles in 25 games.
In conference play, she led the Liberty League in rebounds (13.8 rpg) and steals (3.1 spg), and was tied for fourth in scoring (15.3 ppg). She was the league Rookie of the Week four times and the Performer of the Week once.
Riley helped Bard to the first 5-0 start in the history of the program. When the Raptors finally did lose - at Albany College of Pharmacy on Dec. 4 - she scored 26 points and shattered the school record for rebounds in a game with 30. The Raptors finished the season at 7-18, including the school's first conference win since joining the Liberty League in 2011. Riley had 21 points and 15 rebounds in Bard's historic win over Clarkson, 52-46, on Jan. 11.
"She's an amazing young woman," Lombard said. "If you ever met here, you would never know about the basketball talent that she has. She doesn't walk around thinking that she's better than everyone else; she's the first person to help a teammate; and she has bought in 100 percent into where we want this program to go."
Riley shares the Rookie of the Year award with Clarkson University freshman Ashley Loggins (Colonie, N.Y.) The complete list of postseason awards is below.
2012-13 LIBERTY LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cydni Matsuoka, Jr., G, Vassar
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordyn Wartts, Jr., G, Skidmore
CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ashley Loggins, Fr., F, Clarkson
CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tytravia Riley, Fr., F, Bard
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Vassar – Candice Brown, Margaret White
ALL LEAGUE – FIRST TEAM:
Angela Botiba, Skidmore
Chloe Hayter, William Smith
Cydni Matsuoka, Vassar *
Kara McDuffee, St. Lawrence
Colleen O'Connell, Vassar
ALL LEAGUE – SECOND TEAM:
Leslie Havens, RIT
Kelly Legg, St. Lawrence
Ashley Loggins, Clarkson
Courtney Tennant, RIT
Sarah Wetmore, RPI
ALL-LEAGUE – HONORABLE MENTION:
Brittney Kenney, Union
Kelsey McDonald, Union
Erin O'Brien, William Smith
Tytravia Riley, Bard
Amanda Roberts, St. Lawrence
Jordyn Wartts, Skidmore
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM:
Skylar Caligaris, Skidmore
Dani DeGregory, Skidmore
Ashley Loggins, Clarkson *
Tytravia Riley, Bard *
Amanda Roberts, St. Lawrence *
* denotes unanimous selection
