Senior Colleen Toetz was honored as the Best Offensive Player at the 2004 Basketball Banquet.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Seniors Paul de Wet (Bloemfontein, South Africa), Jessica Kemp (Niagara Falls, Ont./A. N. Meyer) and Ann Mimm (Girard, Pa./Girard) from the Niagara University men’s and women’s basketball teams walked away with two individual awards each, highlighting the 2004 Niagara University Basketball Awards Banquet tonight at Antonio’s Banquet Center.

de Wet received the team’s Team First Award and the Joe Joseph/Bob Laurrie Scholar-Athlete Award. Mimm was also honored with the Scholar-Athlete Award and the team’s Hustle Award. Kemp was honored with the team’s Best Defensive Award and the Coaches Award.

Mimm finished her career averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 36.4 minutes per game this year. Kemp was a defensive star as she led the team in steals (69) and was second on the team in rebounds (6.7).

For the men’s program, freshman J.R. Duffey (Ft. Worth, Texas/Crowley) earned the team’s Most Improved Award. The 6-foot-7 swingman averaged 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and shot 42.4 percent from the field in 32 games.

Winning the Team First Award with de Wet was fellow senior Luis Villafane (San Juan, Puerto Rico). The 6-foot-10 center finished his career with seventh in career blocks.

Junior Alvin Cruz (Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico) was honored with the Unsung Hero Award. Cruz averaged 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. The 6-foot-1 junior led the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Coaches Award was earned by junior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Quebec). The 6-foot-8 junior led the team in scoring (20.5), field-goal percentage (.521) and blocks (56) while finishing second in rebounds (8.8).

Senior James Reaves (Rochester, N.Y./Edison Tech) was honored with the Phil Scaffidi Award which is given annually to the senior who demonstrated the dedication, service and courage exemplified in the life of Niagara Hall of Famer Phil Scaffidi. Reaves scored his 1,000th career point and grabbed his 1,000th career rebound this past season, and led the Purple Eagles in rebounds (9.6).

Honored with the second annual Larry Costello Award was senior Tremmell Darden (Las Vegas, Nev./Las Vegas). The award is given annual to the student-athlete who demonstrated the work ethic and perseverance of the legendary Niagara coach and player. Darden finished his career as the program’s second-leading scorer (1,729) and among the top 10 in seven career categories.

For the women’s program, freshman Shaunna Ambrose (Pittsburgh, Pa./Vincentian) earned the team’s Newcomer of the Year Award. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 1.8 points and 6.2 minutes per game in 19 outings this past season.

Receiving the team’s Best Offensive Player Award was senior Colleen Toetz (Parma, Ohio/Regina). The 5-foot-9 guard led the team in scoring (16.9), field-goal percentage (.460), three-point percentage (.458) and was second in three-pointers (44) and assists (68).

Senior Sarah Heben (Lakewood, Ohio/Magnificat) picked up the Unsung Hero Award. The 6-foot-2 center led Niagara in rebounds (7.0) and blocks (25) and finished her career in the top 10 in rejections.

The Most Valuable Player Award was earned by junior Eva Cunningham (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois). The Purple Eagles’ point guard was second on the team in scoring (15.1), steals (64), and first in assists (127) and free-throw shooting.

2004 Niagara Men’s Basketball Award Winners
Most Improved Player - J.R. Duffey

Team First - Luis Villafane & Paul de Wet

Coaches Award - Juan Mendez

Unsung Hero - Alvin Cruz

Phil Scaffidi - James Reaves

Larry Costello - Tremmell Darden

Newcomer of the Year - Shaunna Ambrose

Best Defensive Player - Jessica Kemp

Best Offensive Player - Colleen Toetz

Unsung Hero - Sarah Heben

Hustle - Ann Mimm

Coaches Award - Jessica Kemp

MVP - Eva Cunningham