Cal Poly's Molly Schlemer named Big West Player of the Year

Posted: Mar 11, 2013 10:56 AM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Mar 11, 2013 11:03 AM

Cal Poly forward Molly Schlemer is rewarded for her meteoric rise. The junior has been named the Big West Conference's Player of the Year marking the fourth consecutive season a Mustang has won the league's highest honor. The Righetti High graduate follows in the footsteps of Righetti grad Kristina Santiago (2010, 2012) and Rachel Clancy (2011) as Mustangs named Big West Players of the Year.

Schlemer the Mustangs and ranked sixth in conference in scoring with 12.7 points per game. She led the Mustangs and raked second in the Big West with her 55.6 percent shooting percentage in only 21 minutes per game. She ranks second on the team and 11th in the league with 6.8 rebounds. Schlemer has recorded six double-doubles during the season. During Big West games, she is averaging 15.2 points and 7.7 rebounds and 59% shooting. She has scored 10 or more points in 15 of her last 17 games.

Schlemer was a key player in Cal Poly's second place finish in the Big West. Cal Poly nearly captured its third-straight Big West regular season title, but finished one game behind first place Pacific.

The Santa Maria native has enjoyed a few dazzling performances that include a career-high 28 points in an overtime win over Pacific. She also tallied 20 points and 12 rebounds in a key win over Hawaii. Schlemer has led Cal Poly in scoring 11 times, including 10 games against Big West opponents. She also won the Big West Player of the Week award twice.

The 6-5 Schlemer also earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Jonae Ervin, Ariana Elegado and Kayla Griffin were named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team. Griffin also received the Big West's Best Hustle Player. The senior is the glue of theMusatngs averaging 8 points. 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Kayla contributes in every way possible. She posted an 8-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist effort in 50 minutes in a triple overtime win against Pacific, and scored a career-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists in a win over UC Santa Barbara.

UCSB senior Sweets Underwood was also named to the First Team. Nicole Nesbit was an Honorable Mention recipient. Underwood averaged 11.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for the Gauchos.