McCRAVE NAMED STATE OF MAINE TOURNAMENT MVP
 

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College guard Colleen McCrave of Walpole, Mass., has been named most valuable player of the fourth annual State of Maine Tournament.

McCrave, a junior co-captain, led the Bobcats to the tournament title with a fine all-around performance. In three games, McCrave averaged 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.7 steals and 4.7 assists per game. She is averaging 10.4 points per game this season, fourth on the team. McCrave is second in NCAA Division III women's basketball with 6.4 steals per game (51 steals in 8 games).

The Bobcats' three wins in the tournament were by a combined total of eight points. They defeated Maine-Presque Isle, 65-61, in the opening round at Husson College Jan. 10. On Jan. 11 at Husson, Bates defeated Maine-Farmington, 72-69, in a rematch of an earlier Bobcat victory. In the championship game, played on the home court of Colby College, the Bobcats erased a 17-point deficit over the last 9:31 seconds to defeat the White Mules, 69-68. The decisive play came when McCrave found first-year forward Kate McLaughlin of Laconia, N.H., to the left of the free throw line with time running out. McLaughlin took two dribbles and laid in the winning basket as time expired.

Also named to the All-Tournament team for the Bobcats were sophomore forward Emily King of Lebanon, N.H., who averaged 14.7 points and six rebounds per game, and sophomore guard Jolene Thurston of Post Mills, Vt., who averaged 11.6 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.

Bates was ranked fourth in the most recent Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll and ninth in the New England Women's Basketball Association. Coach Jim Murphy's squad is now 7-1 overall on the season and 8-1 over the past two seasons in games decided by one basket.