BOSTON - First-Year forward Anna Olson was named America East Rookie of the Year Friday morning as the league announced its year-end award winners. Olson is the fourth player in program history to earn the honor. She was also named to the All-Conference Third Team and All-Rookie Team. Voting was conducted by the league's head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players or themselves.
 
"I am thrilled that the America East women's basketball coaches have recognized Anna's talent and the impact she made in her rookie campaign," said Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. "Anna immediately gained the trust of her teammates and coaches and was asked to fill a big role as a first-year, to be a consistent and go-to offensive threat while defending extremely talented post players every night. She accepted her role, worked every day at expanding her game and handled the pressure with such grace and poise. She is the ultimate team player that would do anything for her teammates and the betterment of our program. Couldn't be happier for Anna to receive this achievement and for her teammates who played a big part in her success."
 
Olson joins impressive company at Vermont as a Rookie of the Year – Courtnay Pilypaitis (2007), Morgan Hall (2000) and Libby Smith (1999) were honored as UVM Athletics Hall of Famers following their time in Catamount Country. (Note: Pilypaitis was announced in the UVM Hall of Fame Class of 2020 but will be officially inducted next fall.)
 
Olson led the Catamounts this season with 13.3 points-per game and 6.8 rebounds-per game. She also averaged two assists a game. She posted two double-doubles this year and had a career-high 19 points against UMBC on January 3 as she helped lead Vermont to its best America East start through six games since the 2009-10 campaign.
 
On January 4, Olson became just the third player in America East history dating back to 1984-85 to win America East Player and Rookie of the Week in the same week. Olson was also the ninth Catamount to earn three or more Rookie of the Week honors in a season – Joanne McKay (3x, 1984-85), Libby Smith (3x, 1998-99), Niki Taylor (3x, 2011-12), Emma Utterback (3x, 2019-20), Dawn Cressman (4x, 1999-00), Hanna Crymble (4x, 2016-17), Morgan Hall (5x, 1999-00) and Courtnay Pilypaitis (7x, 2006-07).
 
2020-21 AMERICA EAST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Amy Vachon, Maine
Rookie of the Year: Anna Olson, Vermont
Sixth Player of the Year: McKenzie Bushee, Stony Brook
Defensive Player of the Year: Blanca Millan, Maine
Player of the Year: Blanca Millan, Maine
 
All-Conference First Team
Denai Bowman, Binghamton So. G Clinton, Md.
Blanca Millan, Maine Sr. G Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Dor Saar, Maine Sr. G Ma'anit, Israel
Anne Simon, Maine So. G Sandweiler, Luxembourg
Denise Solis, UMass Lowell So. F Windsor, Conn.
 
All-Conference Second Team
Maeve Carroll, Maine Sr. F Oakton, Va.
Asiah Dingle, Stony Brook Jr. G Boston, Mass.
Kharis Idom, UMass Lowell Jr. G Orlando, Fla.
India Pagan, Stony Brook Sr. F New London, Conn.
Amanda Torres, New Hampshire Sr. G Hudson, N.H.
 
All-Conference Third Team
Juliet Esadah, UMBC Gr. F Henrico, Va.
Ivy Gogolin, New Hampshire Jr. F Hopkinton, Mass.
Helene Haegerstrand, UAlbany So. F Stockholm, Sweden
Anna Olson, Vermont Fr. F Monticello, Minn.
Anastasia Warren, Stony Brook Jr. G Atlanta, Ga.
 
All-Defensive Team
Denai Bowman, Binghamton So. G Clinton, Md.
Blanca Millan, Maine Sr. G Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Denise Solis, UMass Lowell So. F Windsor, Conn.
Amanda Torres, New Hampshire Sr. G Hudson, N.H.
Hailey Zeise, Stony Brook Gr. G/F Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
All-Rookie Team
Kayla Cooper, UAlbany Fr. G Frederick, Md.
Adara Groman, New Hampshire Fr. G Hopkinton, Mass.
Lyzi Litwinko, NJIT Fr. G Berlin, Conn.
Alexia Nelson, UMBC Fr. G Brooklyn, N.Y.
Anna Olson, Vermont Fr. F Monticello, Minn.
 
All-Academic Team
Kelly Fogarty, Maine Sr. 3.94 Management Walpole, Mass.
Ivy Gogolin, New Hampshire Jr. 3.95 Business Administration Hopkinton, Mass.
Fanny Wadling, Maine Sr. 3.94 Management Nacka, Sweden 
Kaylee Wasco, Binghamton Gr. 3.90 Human Development Midland, Mich. 
4.00 (G) Public Administration 
Hailey Zeise, Stony Brook Gr. 3.75 Sociology Pittsburgh, Pa. 
3.93 (G) Higher Education Administration 

Rise To The Top is the presenting sponsor of the 2020-21 women's basketball season.