Kaylor and Benson Honored at CAA Awards Banquet

Kaylor Honored With Dean Ehlers Leadership Award

03/12/08 9:10PM

NEWARK, Del. - After posting outstanding performances this season, senior Kyra Kaylor and sophomore Tiffany Benson were both honored at the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association Awards Banquet on Wednesday evening in Newark, Del. In addition to garnering first-team all-conference honors for the third-consecutive season, Kaylor was also selected as the recipient of the prestigious Dean Ehlers Leadership Award. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native was also chosen to the All-Academic Second Team, while Benson was named to the All-Defensive Team.

Perhaps the greatest player in the program’s history, Kaylor currently ranks third on the CAA’s career rebounding list with 1,110 boards and is fifth on the league’s all-time scoring chart with 1,840 career points. She is the school record holder in both categories and ranks among the program’s top 10 in 12 additional career categories. This season, she finished the regular season ranked among the league’s top five in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg). Honored as the CAA Player of the Year in 2006, Kaylor has been named to all-conference teams four times.

In addition to her incredible success on the court, Kaylor has excelled in the classroom and in the community as well. Chosen as W&M’s first-ever recipient of the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award, the honor is given annually to the women’s basketball student-athlete who “embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship in conjunction with her academic and athletic achievements.” Earlier this season, Kaylor was one of the nation’s top 30 seniors selected as nominees for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, which recognizes the college basketball player who best exemplifies the total student-athlete. In addition to her various volunteer and outreach contributions, Kaylor has already earned an undergraduate degree in sociology and will soon earn a master’s degree in education.

After being selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team last season, Benson garnered All-Defensive Team honors this year. The Virginia Beach, Va., native finished the regular season as the conference’s top shot blocker with 1.87 bpg after ranking second in the league last season. With 123 career blocks, Benson already ranks second at W&M. After establishing the College’s single-season record for blocks last year (67), her total of 56 this season ranks second.

In addition to her impressive shot-blocking abilities, Benson finished the regular season ranked fourth in the CAA in rebounding with 8.3 rpg. Playing incredibly well at both ends of the floor down the stretch, Benson averaged 17.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 4.5 bpg during the last four contests.

The seventh-seeded Tribe will begin its quest for the CAA championship when it squares off against 10th-seeded Georgia State in the opening round on Thursday at noon.