April 2, 2009 - Brescia guard Brittany Bird and Lambuth head coach Bob Boldon are the NAIA Association of Independent Institutions 2009 Division I Women's Basketball Player and Coach of the Year respectively, the conference announced today. The A.I.I. also released the 2009 A.I.I. All-Star team.

A sophomore guard from Leitchfield, Kentucky, Bird posted a conference high 17.9 points-per-game during the 2008-09 season, while adding 4.2 assists-per-game over the year. Bird also led the entire NAIA in steals during the regular season with a 4.933 per-game average.

Boldon's Lady Eagles finished with an A.I.I. best 23-5 record and were the top seed at the inaugural A.I.I. Tournament. Lambuth did not disappoint, and cruised to an 88-69 win over Voorhees College in the A.I.I. Championship game to advance to the NAIA National Championships. At the NAIA National Championships, Lambuth made it all the way to the final, ultimately falling to Union 73-63 in the Championship game.

Here is the complete 2009 All-Star Team:
A.I.I. Women's Basketball Division I All-Star Team

Name    School    Pos.    Year    Height    Hometown
Brittany Bird    Brescia University    G    SO    5'3    Leitchfield, KY
Tyneshia Eaddy    Morris College    F    SO    5'11    Marion, SC
Yolanda Johnson    Lambuth University    G    SR    5'8    Las Vegas, NV
Brianne Edwards    Park University    F    SO    5'10    Warrensburg, MO
Rhadja Page    Voorhees College    G    SR    5'6    Kingstree, SC
Courtney Milhouse    Voorhees College    G    JR    5'6    Neese, SC
Christal Floyd    Brescia University    C    SR    5'11    Henderson, KY
C.T. Kintchen    Lambuth University    PG    SR    5'5    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Meghan Cummings    Park University    F    SR    6'    St. Joseph, MO
Staci Holmes    Morris College    G    FR    5'8    Bishopville, SC


Player of the Year: Brittany Bird - Brescia University
Coach of the Year: Bob Boldon - Lambuth University