ORU's Kevi Luper Named Summit League Player of the Year

Originally Published: Mar 4, 2010 5:59 PM CDT

Andrew Topps
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota -- Oral Roberts' Kevi Luper cleaned up in the Summit League awards by capturing three of the five major women's basketball honors. Golden Eagles' coach Jerry Finkbeiner was named as the league’s Coach of the Year, as announced Thursday by the league.

Luper won Summit League Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. The freshman leads the nation in steals per game with 4.6 and her 25.6 points per game ranks fourth in Division I.

The Adair, Oklahoma, native set a new single-season record in scoring Feb. 27. Luper scored her 660th point of the season, breaking Northern Illinois' E.C. Hill's record of 659 in 1993-94.

Finkbeiner earned the Coach of the Year award for the first time in his career. He led the Golden Eagles to their first-ever regular season league championship title and No. 1 tournament seed. ORU leads the nation in scoring with 86.4 points per game.

Jaci Bigham joined Luper as a first team All-Summit selection. Bigham led the league in assists with 5.6, three-point shooting (.462) and free throw percentage (.892). The freshman was also named to the All-Newcomer team along with Luper.

Janae Voelker (10.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg) was named to Honorable Mention Team.

Chazny Morris (Missouri-Kansas City), Katie Birkel (North Dakota State), Melissa Jeltema (Oakland), and Maria Boever (South Dakota State) earned first team honors as well.