In some years, the MBWA has had the opportunity to present a special award, when the collegiate Metropolitan Basketball landscape has been changed in dramatic fashion. Whether its a historic achievement, or a team performance - or celebrating a once in a lifetime moment; the MBWA enjoys the opportunity to give out extra hardware at the annual dinner.
Here are the stories of such recent occasions:
2019 • HOSTOS WOMEN WIN BACK-TO-BACK NJCAA DIV. III CHAMPIONSHIPS
The No. 1 ranked and top-seeded Hostos Community College women’s basketball team put the exclamation point on its magical season with its second-straight NJCAA Division III National Championship via a 73-63 victory over third-seeded Owens Community College on at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Penn. The Caimans, who closed out their historic 2018-19 campaign at 29-5, are the first team to capture back-to-back national titles since Rock Valley College in 2012-13. Link to full story....
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2019 • RUTGERS HEAD COACH C. VIVIAN STRINGER WINS 1,000TH GAME
Rutgers Head Women's Basketball Coach C. Vivian Stringer became the fifth Division I women’s basketball coach to achieve the milestone and sixth woman overall when the Scarlet Knights beat Central Connecticut State 73-44 on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. The Hall of Fame coach joined Pat Summitt, Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer and Sylvia Hatchell in the 1,000-victory club. Division II coach Barbara Stevens also has won over 1,000 games. The 70-year-old Stringer is the first African-American coach to reach the milestone. Link to full story....
2018 • HOSTOS WOMEN WIN NJCAA DIV. III NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 2 seeded Hostos Community College defeated No.1 Rock Valley (IL) 58-52 to win the 2017-18 NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship. With the win, the Caimans claimed the first women's national championship in program history and second title overall – the men's basketball team won the program's first championship in 2005. The MVP of the tournament Kayla Wilson led the charge for the Caimans over the defending champions after scoring 22 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. With the performance, Wilson ended the 2017-18 season with 20 straight double-doubles. In the three-day tournament, the freshman averaged 27.3 points and 17.0 rebounds. Link to full story....
2006 • THE BURTTS OF IONA RECOGNIZED WITH FATHER-SON AWARD
Steve Burtt, the father, and Steve Burtt, the son, were presented with a special collegiate Father-Son Recognition Award by the Met Basketball Writers Association at the 73rd annual NIT/MBWA Haggerty Awards Dinner on Wednesday evening, April 19, at the Giants Stadium Club in East Rutherford, N.J.
The Burtts, who both played guard, this season achieved the distinction of becoming the most prolific father-son scoring duo in the history of the NCAA where both players have scored at least 1,000 points. In this case, both players surpassed the 2,000-point plateau.Steve Burtt, the father, tallied 2,534 points in a four-year career at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., that concluded in 1984, before the 3-point goal was instituted. Link to full story....
2006 • MONROE WOMEN WIN 1ST NJCAA NATIONAL TITLE
The Monroe College women's basketball team went a perfect 36-0 in 2005-06, under the leadership of head coach Seth Goodman to win the school's first-ever NJCAA Women's Division III National Championship. The Mustangs cruised past upstate New York neighbor Mohawk Valley CC, 100-70 to earn the 2006 title. The Monroe team was a recipient of 2005-06 NIT/MBWA Team Achievement Awards for their outstanding season on April 19, 2006 at the NIT/MBWA Collegiate Awards at the Giants Stadium Club in East Rutherford, NJ. Link to full story....
2005 • MBWA HONORS HOSTOS MEN'S & MONROE WOMEN'S TEAMS
The Hostos Community College men and Monroe College women's teams have been
named recipients of 2004-05 NIT/MBWA Team Achievement Awards for their outstanding seasons.
Just a third-year program, Hostos, which is based in the Bronx, N.Y., compiled a 25-8 record enroute to winning the NJCAA men's Division III national championship.
Monroe, with campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle, N.Y., finished 32-2 as runnerup in the NJCAA women's Division III national tournament. The Lady Mustangs defeated Joliet 82-74 in overtime in the semifinals before falling in the championship game 64-60 to Anoka-Ramsey of Cambridge, Minn.
Link to full story....
2003 • MONROE MUSTANGS MEN FINISH THIRD IN NATION
In his first season as Monroe men's basketball head coach, Jeff Brustad's team returned to nationals with a 31-3 mark and a third-place finish after making the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Championship for the second time in school history. The Monroe team was honored with NIT/MBWA Team Achievement Award at the 70th annual NIT/MBWA Haggerty Awards dinner at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. on Wednesday, April 30, 2003.
1998 • MONROE MEN EARN FIRST NJCAA BASETBALL NATIONAL TITLE
Appearing in the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Championship for the first time in school history, the Monroe College Mustangs were National Runner-Ups in 1997-98. Under the leadership of head coach Charles Jackson and the heady play by All-American Mike Nurse, Monroe finished a school record 31-3. The Mustangs were then celebrated with a NIT/MBWA Team Achievement Award on Wednesday, April 28, 1998 at the 65th NIT/MBWA Haggerty Awards dinner at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.
ECAC STEVE BAMFORD AWARD • From 2015-2018, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC) partnered with the MBWA to give their Steve Bamford Award (given for significant contributions and provided outstanding service) at the annual Haggerty Dinner. In those three years, it was awarded to Debbie Archambault, Michael Stephens, Jon Levinson and Bob Pugh. For more on the recipients, click on their names.
* If you have an ommission, or a picture worth sharing from a MBWA special award event, please email metbasketball@gmail.com.
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