University of Massachusets Athletics
Butler Named A Preseason First Team All-Conference Selection
November 05, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 5, 2002
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - University of Massachusetts women's basketball senior center Jennifer Butler (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has been selected to the Atlantic 10 preseason All-Conference first team as announced this morning during the league's annual teleconference. Butler was also named to the Defensive team.
Last season, Butler was the only player in the conference to average a double-double as she poured in 13.2 ppg and pulled down 11.8 rpg. Her rebounding average led the conference and was fifth nationally. With 353 rebounds during the 2001-02 season, Butler became the all-time rebounder in school history with 916 career boards. She also became the 13th player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau (1,001). Defensively, Butler had 60 steals and 45 blocks last year.
In addition to topping the school's rebounding chart, the 2002 co-captain is first all-time in rebounding average (10.7), fourth in blocks (104), sixth in steals (171), sixth in free throws made (249) and third in free throws attempted (477). Each of her three single-season rebounding totals rank in the top four in school history.
Joining Butler on the first team are Beth Friday of Duquesne, Cathy Joens and Ugo Oha of George Washington and Temple's Stacey Smalls. The Defensive team is comprised of Butler, Friday, Oha, Smalls and Richmond's Amber Goppert.
Massachusetts was picked by the conference's coaches to finish third in the East Division, behind 2001-02 tournament champion Temple and Saint Joseph's. St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and Fordham round out the East. In the West, George Washington was selected to repeat as regular season champion. Following the Colonials are Richmond, Dayton, Duquesne, Xavier and La Salle.
Last season, the Minutewomen finished third in the regular season and advanced to the semifinals of the A-10 Tournament before falling to Temple, 67-61, in overtime.
Massachusetts will host the Nor'Easter Storm in a 7:30 p.m. exhibition game at the Mullins Center on Friday, Nov. 8. It opens up the regular season at the Mullins Center on Friday, Nov. 22, with a 7:00 p.m. game against Sacred Heart. It will be the first game for Head Coach Marnie Dacko.