Bates College women’s basketball coach Alison Montgomery gives instructions to her team during a November 2021 game against University of Maine at Farmington at Alumni Gymnasium in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association named Bates College’s Alison Montgomery as its Coach of the Year on Thursday.

In her seventh season at the helm of the Bobcats, Montgomery led Bates to a 17-7 record and its first NESCAC tournament championship. The Bobcats have qualified for the NESCAC tournament in four of Montgomery’s six full seasons (the 2020-21 season consisted of just two games.

The MWBCA also unveiled its All-State teams, and NESCAC Player of the Year Meghan Graff was named to the first team. All-NESCAC second-teamer Mia Roy was named to the MWBCA’s second team, and Bates sophomore Morgan Kennedy was named to the All-Newcomer Team.

UMAINE EARNS MULTIPLE CONFERENCE HONORS: The America East Conference released its postseason awards Thursday, and the University of Maine women’s team received plenty of recognition from the conference.

Anne Simon was selected as both the Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year, and Amy Vachon was tabbed Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her five years leading the program.

Simon was also named to the All-Conference first team and the All-Defensive Team. Maeve Carroll was named to the second team for the third time and joined Simon on the All-Defensive Team. Alba Orois was a third-team selection, and Paula Gallego was named to the All-Rookie Team.