Natalie Bruns of NYU Named WBCA Player of the Year; Morgan Morrison Also Earns All-America Honors
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has named Violet senior Natalie Bruns its Division III Player of the Year.
"The WBCA is pleased to name Natalie Bruns as the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division III Player of the Year," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. "She is most deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA applauds Natalie for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the game during the 2023-24 season."
Bruns and graduate student Morgan Morrison were named WBCA All-Americans, junior Belle Pellecchia earned Honorable Mention, while Head Coach Meg Barber was a finalist for WBCA Coach of the Year.
"I'm really happy to receive the honor and I can't help but thank my teammates and my coaches for helping me to get into this position," Bruns said. "Playing sports at this level and at NYU needs a different type of work ethic and my teammates push me harder and harder every day. My hard work is paying off, but we're definitely not done yet. We have this weekend to take care of."
The
D3hoops.com All-Region Teams were also announced, with four Violets (Bruns, Morrison, Pellecchia, graduate student Megan Bauman) receiving First Team Region 4 accolades. Bruns was also tabbed Region 4 Player of the Year and Barber earned Region 4 Coach of the Year honors.
Bruns' season has included setting the NYU record for career blocks (229 and counting), reaching 1,000 career points (1,108 and counting) and being named University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year. Bruns, who has started all of NYU's 29 games, leads the Violets in scoring (14.9), rebounding (7.2) and blocks (90), and is second in assists (112), steals (38), and field goal percentage (.546). Nationally in NCAA Division III, she is fourth in total blocks and ninth in blocks per game (3.10).
Morrison leads the Violets in field goal percentage (.606) and ranks fourth among all active NCAA Division III players in that category (.597). Last season's
D3hoops.com Player of the Year is second on the Violets in scoring (14.4) and blocks (28), and third in rebounding (7.0).
Pellecchia has also reached the 1,000-point scoring mark this season (1,038 and counting). Leading the team in steals (60) and second in rebounding (7.1), she was named UAA Defensive Player of the Year for an unprecedented third consecutive season. Pellecchia is also third on the team in scoring (11.0).
Bauman leads NYU in assists (4.7) and minutes played (27.4) per game. She is averaging 7.9 points while shooting .506 from the field. Bauman led the nation in free throw shooting last year (.930) and ranks #1 among all active NCAA Division III players in that category (.873), while also ranking #2 in total assists (590).
"We're very appreciative of the acknowledgment from the WBCA and D3hoops," Barber said. "Obviously, none of these awards come without tremendous team success."
Barber (NYU class of 2002), has posted a 117-21 (.847) head coaching record at her alma mater, including a perfect 29-0 mark so far this season. The 29-game winning streak is a program record, as is the 2,351 points the Violets have scored. Under Barber's guidance this season, NYU currently ranks #1 in NCAA Division III in assists per game (19.5) and field goal pct. (49.6), #2 in assist/turnover ratio (1.39), #3 in three-point pct. (37.48), #6 in blocks per game (6.2), and #9 in rebound margin (11.3).