Courtesy of the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association

New York, N.Y. (4/22/21)  DaShanique Ruffin of Bloomfield and Taylor Tomlinson of Dominican have been named All-Met Division II women's college basketball co-Players of the Year for 2020-21 as announced Thursday by the Met Basketball Writers Association.

Bill Diener of Dominican was selected Coach of the Year.

The rest of the All-Met team: Paula Dits, Caldwell; Alexa Huertas, St. Thomas Aquinas; Khay'la Latimer, Dominican; Briana Lee, Felician; Bacaliu Marigona, Concordia.

The MBWA selected a single seven-player All-Met team for this past season due to reduced schedules and the reduced number of competing schools during the coronavirus pandemic.

A 6-1 sophomore forward from Paterson, NJ, Ruffin --- who also was named to the All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference team --- led the Bears (6-5) by averaging 14.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and in shooting 50.4% (64-of-127) from the field, while adding 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. She finished fourth in the CACC in points per game, third in rebounding average and third in field goal shooting percentage.

A 5-9 junior forward from Middletown, NY, Tomlinson --- who also was named to the All-CACC team and additionally was selected as the conference tournament's most valuable player --- led the Chargers (12-2) to the CACC playoffs title and into the NCAA tournament. In starting all 14 games for Dominican, she topped the team with 11.6 ppg (seventh in the CACC), 7.1 rpg (eighth in the CACC) and 1.2 blocks per game. She also averaged 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals. An All-Met Second Team selection in 2020, Tomlinson shot 44.4% (68-of-154) from the field this past season.

In his 11th season at the helm, Diener guided the Chargers (12-2, 8-1) to a second place finish during the CACC regular season and then to their first appearance with him at the helm in the conference championship game in addition to winning the CACC tournament title. Dominican won the conference playoffs with three consecutive dominant victories, defeating Felician 80-57, Nyack 83-60 and top-seeded Georgian Court 81-65.

After annexing the CACC laurels, the Chargers earned their second NCAA East Region tournament berth in program history, where they bowed out in a 77-73 double overtime loss to Roberts Wesleyan.

A former high school coach before joining Dominican, this is the first All-Met Coach of the Year honor for Diener. He lives in Nanuet, NY, with his wife, Doreen, and their three children.

Latimer, makes her first appearance on the All-Met Team.  She was previously selected to the All-CACC Team and to the CACC All-Tournament Team.  Latimer ranked in the top 15 in the CACC and was second on the team in scoring, while leading the conference in three-point field goal percentage and three-point field goals.  Latimer sat ninth in steals,10th in points and was in the top twenty in rebounds among CACC leaders.

SUMMARY

NEW YORK (April 22, 2021) – The 2020-21 All-Met Division II women's college basketball team announced Thursday by the Met Basketball Writers Association.

Paula Dits, Caldwell                                     6-1, Jr., G                  Alicante, Spain

Alexa Huertas, St. Thomas Aquinas            5-6, Jr., G                  Haverstraw, NY

Khay'la Latimer, Dominican                      5-10, Jr., G              Teaneck, NJ

Briana Lee, Felician                                     5-9, So., G/F              Jersey City, NJ

Bacaliu Marigona, Concordia                       5-8, So., G                 Worcester, MA

DaShanique Ruffin, Bloomfield                    6-1, So., F                  Paterson, NJ

Taylor Tomlinson, Dominican                   5-9, Jr., F                  Middletown, NY

Co-Player of the Year: DaShanique Ruffin, Bloomfield

Co-Player of the Year: Taylor Tomlinson, Dominican

Coach of the Year: Bill Diener, Dominican