Women's Basketball | 2/26/2009 10:31:00 AM

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ROCHESTER, NY - Freshman center #Sharon Dennis (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool)# (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) of the RIT women's basketball team, was named the 2009 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year on Thursday.  She also garnered All-Empire 8 first team honors.  Dennis was the lone rookie to be honored by the conference.  In addition, junior #Danielle Furman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport)# (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) was honored as a Sportsperson of the Year.

Dennis enjoyed a tremendous year for the Tigers, leading the team in nearly every offensive category.  She  led the Empire 8 in rebounding (12.8 boards per game) and blocked shots (3.9 blocks per game) and ranks eighth and fifth, respectively, in those categories in all of Division III. 

Dennis recorded 15 double-doubles in 22 games.  She finished her debut season seventh all-time at RIT in points in a season (341), second in rebounds (282), first in blocks (85) and fourth in field-goal percentage (.472).  She was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week on Feb. 16 and was a six-time E8 Rookie of the Week.

One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2009 Women's Basketball Sportswoman of the Year Team.  Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.

Furman enjoyed a solid season for RIT, averaging 11.9 points per game, while shooting 86 percent from the foul line and draining 37 three-pointers.  On Feb. 22, Furman became the all-time leader in made 3-pointers at RIT, with 123.  Furman has 726 points in three seasons at RIT.