HARTFORD, Conn. - Throughout the regular season, the Rutgers women's basketball team repeatedly said its first goal was to win the Big East regular season title.
On the road to its first outright regular season title, the team had outstanding individual performances galore, and those were recognized Friday at the Big East Awards Banquet in Hartford, Conn.
Selected by the coaches of the Big East, the Scarlet Knights walked away with four of the seven awards handed out.
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer received the Coach of the Year award for the second time in her career after leading her team to a 14-2 conference record.
Stringer's season has consisted of one major accomplishment after another, as she picked up her 700th victory of her career and coached her team to three consecutive victories over top-10 teams.
Matee Ajavon has provided Rutgers with plenty of highlight reel material this season, and picked up the Freshman of the Year honor for her outstanding first year on the Banks.
Ajavon averaged 12.6 points-per-game and 4.2 assists in the regular season and is the third Knight to win the award since Rutgers joined the league 10 years ago. The guard was also named a member of the All-Freshman team.
Senior guard Chelsea Newton, known for her fearless style of play, received the Defensive Player of the Year award. Newton is the first Rutgers player to win the award since its creation in 1996.
The Louisiana native averaged 4.0 rebounds-per-game and recorded a team-leading 33 steals to lead the Knights to a conference-leading 20.9 forced turnovers-per-game. Newton was also selected to the All-Big East Third Team.
Junior forward Michelle Campbell burst onto the scene this year, and became the Knights' main inside presence. Campbell was recognized as Most Improved Player of the Year and was selected to the All-Big East Third Team.
Campbell recorded double figure scoring 19 times this season and was the only Knight to start all 28 games. The 6-foot-2-inch Campbell averaged 12.3 ppg. and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds-per-contest.
Senior Cappie Pondexter was selected as a member of the All-Big East First Team. The guard averaged a team-leading 13.0 ppg. and tallied 14.1 ppg. in conference play.
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