Gustfason named Big Ten Player of the Year

This year, there is no split decision. The coaches and media agree.

Megan Gustafson is the Big Ten women's basketball Player of the Year.

A senior at the University of Iowa, Gustafson earned top honors when the Big Ten revealed its postseason honors Monday.

'She's a really, really special talent,” Indiana Coach Teri Moren said during the Big Ten coaches' teleconference Monday. 'She's a high-energy post player.”

This was no surprise. After all, Gustafson was named the Big Ten Player of the Week 13 times this season, including Monday.

A native of Port Wing, Wis., Gustafson is just the fifth Hawkeye in program history to win Player of the Year, and the first to win it twice.

Last year, the media picked Gustafson while the coaches went with Kelsey Mitchell of Ohio State.

Gustafson averaged 28.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, and shot 68.7 percent from the field in Big Ten play this season. She registered 20 or more points in 17 of Iowa's 18 games, including seven 30-point games.

She ended the regular season ranked in the top five nationally in eight statistical categories, leading the nation in points per game (27.7) and field-goal percentage (.708).

She is No. 2 in double-doubles (27) and fourth in rebounds per game (13.3).

'She's got a great shot to stick in the WNBA,” said Minnesota coach and longtime WNBA player Lindsay Whalen. 'Her footwork, the way she rebounds the ball ... she definitely has a chance.”

Gustfson crossed the 2,600-point career mark Sunday, becoming the 49th player in NCAA Division I history to get there. She ranks sixth all-time with 82 career double-doubles.

She is a unanimous first-team selection by coaches and media. Kathleen Doyle joins her on the coaches' first team and is a second-team pick by the media. Tania Davis earned honorable mention.

Gustafson also was named to the coaches' all-conference defensive team.

Brenda Frese of Maryland, a Cedar Rapids native, was tabbed the conference Coach of the Year by both sources after leading the Terrapins to the regular-season league title.

Iowa (23-6 overall, 14-4 Big Ten) finished second in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes face Minnesota or Indiana in the tournament quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m. (Iowa time) Friday.