BASKETBALL:UCI’s Ned honored

UC Irvine senior Angie Ned has been named Big West Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-Big West Conference honors in women’s basketball.

Ned, a 5-foot-9 guard, is averaging 15.4 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Anteaters (6-23), who open Big West Tournament action today against Long Beach State at 2:30 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Ned was a first-team all-conference honoree last season and made the second team in 2004-05.

The UCI men’s team placed Michael Hunter and Chad DeCasas on the five-player All-Freshman team.

Hunter, a 5-10 point guard, is averaging 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds for Coach Pat Douglass’ squad (13-17), which opens Big West Tournament play today against UC Riverside at 6 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Hunter has started 14 games and appeared in 28 games this season, averaging 20.7 minutes per game. He is shooting 43.9% from three-point range (29 for 65).

DeCasas, a 6-5 wing, is averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds. He has 12 starts in 29 appearances and is averaging 2.8 minutes per contest. He made 14 of 30 three-point tries this season (46.7%).

UCI standouts Patrick Sanders, a 6-6 junior, and Darren Fells, a 6-7 junior, received honorable mention. Fells also received honorable mention as a sophomore.

UCI junior Stephanie Duda received honorable mention from conference women’s coaches.

Long Beach State senior guard Aaron Nixon was named men’s Player of the Year, while Coach of the Year went to Long Beach State’s Larry Reynolds.

Henrik Thomsen of UC Riverside was the men’s Freshman of the Year.

Kemie Nkele, a 6-1 junior from UC Riverside was named women’s Player of the Year, while Riverside’s John Margaritis was Coach of the Year.

UC Santa Barbara’s Jordan Franey is the women’s Freshman of the Year.