BRIDGEPORT, CONN. - Canisius College freshman Jamie Ruttle (Burlington, Ontario) was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year on Thursday, at the postseason awards banquet at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. Ruttle is the fourth player in program history to win the award - Amanda Cavo in 2006, Shauna Geronzin in 1999 and Heather Fiore in 1994.

A two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week selection, Ruttle led MAAC freshmen in conference play in scoring (9.8) and free-throw percentage (77.3). Ruttle is averaging 8.9 points per game and could be the third Canisius player in the last 25 years to lead the team in scoring during her freshman season.

Ruttle, who has scored at least eight points in 15 of the last 20 games, scored a career-high 19 points against Fairfield on Jan. 2, the most points by a Canisius freshman in a MAAC opener in program history. Ruttle had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the Feb. 14 game at Marist, recording the first double-double by a Canisius freshman in the last four seasons. She was the fifth Golden Griffin in program history to be named MAAC Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks.

Four Golden Griffins were named to the MAAC All-Academic team - seniors Micayla Drysdale and Tauralee Tenn, junior Steph MacDonald and sophomore Allison Braun. Drysdale and Tenn were named to the team for the third time while MacDonald received the honor for the second time. To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete needs a 3.20 grade point average.

Canisius plays in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Championship against No. 2 seed Loyola on Friday morning. Tipoff at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard is set for 9:30 a.m.