May 1, 2006

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Yale women's basketball team has named Chinenye Okafor (Rolla, Mo.) as captain for the forthcoming 2006-07 season during the team's annual end-of-year banquet held earlier this month. Okafor is just the fifth two-term captain in the history of the program and the first since Maria Siambekos '94.

Okafor led the Bulldogs in scoring (10.0 ppg.) and steals (53) during the season and was the emotional leader of the team. She was also second in rebounding (5.8 rpg) and third in minutes played (25.4 mpg) en route to earning team MVP honors.

Julie Mantilla (Arlington Heights, Ill.) earned the Most Improved Player award after her steady progressing throughout the season. She was one of only three players to play in all 27 of the Bulldogs' games and led the team in blocked shots with 43.

Other awards handed out during the banquet include the Karen Yarasavage Award, which is given out to the player showing the attributes of grit and determination, given to Sara McCollum (Old Lyme, Conn.) and the Leadership Award, presented to Kaitlin Emmerling (Lakewood, Colo.).

McCollum was the only Bulldog to start every game and led the team in minutes played (754) andrebounding (6.7 rpg.). She was was third in scoring (8.3 ppg.) and finished seventh in the conference in rebounding. Emmerling was a source of energy throughout the season for the Bulldogs, playing both the guard and forward positions. She appeared in 26 games and helped usher the team into a new style of play under a new coach.

The team also recognized Cassandra Harris (Newbury Park, Calif.), the lone departing senior on the team.