Grand Canyon's Samantha Murphy named Women's Division II Bulletin Player of the Year

Courtesy Women's Division II Bulletin

BEAVERTON, OR - Grand Canyon University senior Samantha Murphy has been named the 2011 Women’s Division II Bulletin Player of the Year.

She also was named to the publication's First Team for her outstanding campaign.

Murphy, Division II’s top scorer, helped lead GCU to a 29-3 season, a No. 7 national ranking, and first-ever berth into the NCAA II West Region title game.

She set a new school mark for points in a season (786) and points in a game (49). The 5-8 guard is Grand Canyon’s all-time leading scorer (2,147). She is a two-time Pacific West Conference Player of the Year and a four-time first-team all-conference selection.

She scored in double figures in all 32 games and scored over 20 points 25 times and over 30 points four times.

“Samantha was nearly unstoppable on the offensive end and showed her team-first attitude by leading GCU to the verge of an Elite Eight appearance,” said WDIIB editor Gary Rubin. “She is most deserving.”

Murphy headlines the 2011 WDIIB All-American team, where she was joined on the first team by Delta State’s Veronica Walker, Wayne St. junior Ashley Arlen, Lander senior Shannon McKever and Cal Poly Pomona’s Reyana Colson.

Women's Division II Bulletin has selected a Player of the Year every season since 1993-94.

Women's Division II Bulletin is published by GSR Communications, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary season of covering small college basketball.