University of Minnesota Athletics
Kiara Buford Named Minnesota's Most Valuable Player
3/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Junior Kiara Buford was the recipient of Minnesota's Most Valuable Player award, highlighting the women's basketball program's annual team banquet, which took place in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday evening.
Buford, a graduate of St. Paul Central High School, was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the conference's coaches and media members. A 5-11 guard, Buford ranked ninth in the Big Ten in scoring, leading the Gophers with an average of 14.9 points per game. She reached double figures in 24 of 29 games, and had six games with 20 or more points, including a career-high of 27 points. She also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Senior guard China Antoine was honored with the Defensive Player of the Year award. Antoine led the Gophers and ranked third in the Big Ten with 71 steals, an average of 2.4 steals per game. She was the only Minnesota player to start all 30 games this season, and also averaged 7.0 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Junior Nicole Mastey was honored with the Golden Gopher Award, which is bestowed upon a player who displays what a Minnesota student-athlete is all about - the values, respect, loyalty and integrity of being a Golden Gopher athletically, academically and in the community - throughout a collegiate career. Nicole is also this year's recipient of the team's Most Outstanding Scholar Award.
Senior Kristen Dockery was the recipient of Minnesota's Most Improved Player award. Dockery, a 6-4 forward from Granger, Ind., struggled with injuries during her career and entered her final season having played in just 14 games for 34 total minutes. But, this season, Dockery was able to stay healthy and played in 29 games while making the first eight starts of her career. She averaged 4.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures five times and registering her first career point-rebound double-double.
The Terry McFarland Sixth Player of the Year Award is given to a person who makes a special contribution to the Golden Gopher program, whether in time, effort, donation or spirit. The 2010-11 recipients of this special award are Lynnette Sjoquist and Kathy Bjorke. Sjoquist is a long-time supporter of Golden Gopher women's basketball, and just completed her tenth season as the color analyst for the Gopher Radio Network. Bjorke is a Fast Break Club board member who has served as director of the FBC's Hoops Scramble for the past two years. The Hoops Scramble has raised around $50,000 in each of the past two years
The Fast Break Club also announced its award winners at the banquet. The awards are voted upon by the FBC's Board of Directors. For the second-straight year, the Fast Break Club Award recipient was junior forward Jackie Voigt. The FBC's Love of the Game Award was given to Dockery and Nicole Mastey.
The evening's festivities were concluded with the debut of the 2010-11 highlight video.
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/ Women's BasketballHighlights: Gophers 78, Illinois 73
Sunday, March 01
Coming Home: Carlie Wagner Olstad
Monday, February 23
Highlights: Gophers 61, Michigan State 75
Sunday, February 22
Cinematic Recap: #23 Gophers-#10 Buckeyes
Friday, February 20