SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior guard Emily Irwin (Billerica, Mass.) of the Curry College women's basketball team has been named as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-CCC Selection, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. Additionally, freshman Peyton Perine (Fairfax, Va.) was recognized as the CCC Rookie of the Year and also landed on the All-CCC Second Team.

Irwin earns the Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year after she led both the conference and Division III in steals per game (5.13). She also led all of Division III women's basketball in total steals with 118.  Irwin had six or more steals in 11 contests, including four occasions when she just missed double-digits at nine. Irwin finished the regular season ranking second in the conference in points per game (18.2), second in rebounds per game (8.4), and first in assists per game (4.9). She was a two-time recipient of the CCC Player of the Week award, was named the New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Player of the Week once, and was a three-time selection to the NEWBA Weekly Honor Roll.

Perine had a stellar start to her collegiate career with a very strong rookie season. She currently ranks fourth in the conference in points per game at 15.9 and third in the conference in rebounds per game at 7.4. She amassed five double-doubles and scored 20 or more on 11 occasions. She started all but one game during her freshman campaign and averaged 33.5 minutes.). She also ranked seventh in field goal percentage (40.4), and tied for ninth in blocks per game. The Fairfax, Va. native was tabbed the CCC Rookie of the Week a league-high eight times during the regular season, including five straight weeks. Additionally, she was a four-time NEWBA Rookie of the Week selection.

Irwin, Perine, and Curry (14-11, 10-6 CCC) have qualified for the CCC Championship Tournament as the number five seed and with travel to fourth-seeded Roger Williams for a quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m.

Click HERE for the CCC Release. 

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