January 6, 2010

Barden, Gaffney Named December RMAC Athletes of the Month

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- January 6, 2010 -- The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has instituted a new awards program to recognize outstanding performances by student-athletes throughout the league by honoring student-athletes each month. The league's sports information directors nominate the student-athletes that are then selected by the league office. This month's award winners for December 2009 are David Barden of Fort Lewis and Brecca Gaffney of Colorado Mines.

Barden led the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks to the 2009 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship title in early December in Tampa, Fla. In the semifinal game against Le Moyne, he netted three goals, an assist, five shots and three shots on goal. His second goal of the game, which came at 46:19, was also the game-winning goal. The Skyhawks won the match, 8-2, to advance to the championship game against Lees McRae, where Barden scored the game-winning goal - and the only goal of the game - in the 77th minute. In the two games, Barden posted nine points, four goals, two game-winning goals, one assist, nine shots, and six shots on goal. He was named the 2009 NCAA Men's Soccer Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Junior forward Brecca Gaffney led the Orediggers women's basketball team to a perfect record in December as CSM went 4-0 and opened conference play with a 3-0 record. In four games, Gaffney averaged 13.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Gaffney shot 68.6 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line. Gaffney was named Player of the Week on Dec. 7th as she averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and shot 85 percent from field in a pair of conference games. Against Western State, Gaffney recorded her first double-double of the season as she finished with 20 points (9-for-11 field goals) and 11 rebounds while dishing out four assists. In CSM's win over Mesa State, Gaffney finished with 18 points and nine rebounds and shot 88.9 percent from the field (8-for-9 field goals). Gaffney currently leads CSM in both scoring (12.8) and rebounding (8.9) and is shooting 77.3 percent from the free throw line and 55.7 percent from the field. Gaffney currently ranks first in the RMAC in defensive rebounds, second in field goal percentage, fourth in rebounding and blocked shots, and 14th in scoring.

December's Top Men's Performers

Name School Sport
Roman Andrade, N.M. Highlands, Basketball
David Barden, Fort Lewis, Soccer
Mike Dominguez, Mesa State, Basketball
Josh Hensley, Adams State, Wrestling
Donovan McMahill, Western State, Wrestling
Donte Nicholas, Metro State, Basketball
Josiah Parker, Nebraska-Kearney, Basketball
Matt Rosinski, Regis, Basketball
Cole Smith, UC-Colorado Springs, Basketball
Jesse Snider, Colorado Mines, Wrestling
Marc Williams, CSU-Pueblo, Basketball
Justin Williams, Western N.M., Basketball

December's Top Women's Performers

Name School Sport
Vera Jo Bustos, Adams State, Basketball
Shannon Elliott, CSU-Pueblo, Track & Field
Brecca Gaffney, Colorado Mines, Basketball
Lauren Graham, UC-Colorado Springs, Track & Field
Katie Mackey, Fort Lewis, Basketball
Audra Major, Western N.M., Basketball
Amber Murray, Western State, Basketball
Kaitlin Petri, Chadron State, Basketball
Tae'lor Purdy, Regis, Basketball
Chelsea Williamson, Metro State Basketball

2009-10 RMAC Athletes of the Month

December: David Barden, Fort Lewis & Brecca Gaffney, Colorado Mines
November: Bri Morley, Metro State & Reuben Mwei, Adams State
October: Rustin Dring, Nebraska-Kearney & Kayla Mitchell, Colorado Mines
September: Adam Saur, Colorado Mines & Nikki Scott, Nebraska-Kearney