UVU's Fairbanks wins 3rd-straight player of the year award

OREM — Utah Valley University women's basketball standout Robyn Fairbanks was named the Division I Independent Player of the Year and to the All-Independent first team on Wednesday in a vote by coaches and sports information directors at 14 independent schools. It's the third consecutive year that Fairbanks has earned the award.

Julie McMurray was named to the second team for the second straight season while Sandy Wall earned honorable mention.

Fairbanks averaged 26.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and hit 60.8 percent from the field in her final season of college basketball. The two-time All-American became the 20th player in NCAA D-I history to record 2,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. Her scoring average ranks second nationally.

"For Robyn to be able to cap her senior year with this award is awesome," said head coach Cathy Nixon.

McMurray finished second on the team and fourth among independent players with a career-best 18.3 points per game. Her triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over NJIT was the first in school history. She capped her junior season by leading the Wolverines to the independent tournament championship and the Most Valuable Player award.

Wall averaged 13.9 points in her final season.

Houston Baptist's Fallon Thomas was named the Defensive Player of the Year, Seattle's Breanna Salley was named the Newcomer of the Year and coach Tim La Kose of CSU Bakersfield earned the Coach of the Year award.

TOOLSON, OLSEN HONORED: Utah Valley's Ryan Toolson was named to the men's Division I All-Independent First Team while UVU teammate Josh Olsen was named to the second team.

Toolson, the 2007-08 Independent Player of the Year, averaged 23.8 points in over 37 minutes per game. Toolson, one of greatest free-throw shooters in NCAA history, made 93.9 percent (494-for-526) from the line in his career, placing him second all-time.

"Ryan was the best player in independent basketball," said Dick Hunsaker. "He's very deserving of every honor he receives."

Toolson's career average of 19.1 points per game is second in the school record book while his 2,163 points is a school record. His 63 points in a 123-121, four-overtime win at Chicago State on Jan. 29 is an NCAA season-high.

Olsen earned a spot on the second team after averaging career highs of 11.2 points and 3.6 assists per game.

Chicago State's David Holston was named the player of the year while his coach, Benjy Taylor, earned coach of the year honors. South Dakota's Tyler Cain earned the defensive player of the year award and North Carolina's Jamar Briscoe was tabbed newcomer of the year.