Big Ten women’s basketball coaches Thursday named Penn State point guard Helen Darling player of the year in the conference. The media awarded the honor to league scoring champion Katie Douglas of Purdue.
Coaches and media also split on voting for coach of the year. Rene Portland of conference champion Penn State earned the nod of her peers. The media opted for Sue Guevara, coach of the second-place Michigan Wolverines.
Michigan’s Stacey Thomas, holder of the Big Ten career record in steals, was named top defensive player by both coaches and media. Both groups named Ohio State’s LaToya Turner freshman of the year.
Coaches and media agreed on six of the eight players named first team All-Big Ten:
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Tauja Catchings of Illinois, Andrea Garner of Penn State, Kristen Rasmussen of Michigan State, Darling, Douglas and Thomas. The coaches also named Maren Walseth of Penn State and Maxann Reese of Michigan State. The media named Allison Curtin of Illinois and Camille Cooper of Purdue.