William Smith College basketball players junior Ashlinn Barber and senior Julie Hooper were honored at the annual Heron Banquet on April 27. Barber received the Marisa Vespa '08 Basketball Award as the team's most valuable player, while Hooper was presented with the Barbara Easton Regan Basketball Coach's Award.

A forward, Barber averaged 12.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. She grabbed 236 boards this winter, claiming the sixth spot on William Smith's single season list. Barber's rebounding average was the best in the Liberty League and is the highest by a Heron since Jennifer Goodell '97 pulled down 10.4 per game in the 1996-97 season. A second-team all-conference and D3hoops.com All-East Region selection, she registered eight double-doubles, including a season-high 26-point, 16-rebound performance in a victory over Clarkson. Barber was dubbed the Liberty League Forward of the Week five times this year.

A natural leader and hard-worker, Hooper served as the team's captain this winter. A guard, she finished the season fourth on the team in scoring with 8.1 points per game, highlighted by a career-high 19 vs. Union. Hooper boasted the Herons' best three-point shooting percentage (.341), connecting a team-high 31 times from beyond the arc. She also averaged 2.1 assists and 1.8 boards per game.

Additionally, sophomore forward Kristin Kush earned the department's Hazel Nettleship Hardy '65 Award, which is presented to a student-athlete in her middle years who has contributed to the growth of Heron athletics and is an excellent representative of William Smith athletics.

The Herons finished the season with an 8-16 overall record, 4-10 in the Liberty League.