Kasibabu named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Lopez-Senechal selected as MAAC Rookie of the Year
A pair of Fairfield basketball standouts have been recognized by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with major year-end awards, as announced during the 2019 MAAC Championships in Albany, N.Y. this week. Fairfield Men’s Basketball captain Jonathan Kasibabu ’19 was selected as the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Stags’ Women’s Basketball first-year star Lou Lopez-Senechal was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year.
Jonathan Kasibabu finished his senior season with the Stags ranked second in the MAAC in rebounding with 7.4 boards per game, and slotted ninth in blocked shots with 24 rejections this winter. His numbers were even better against conference foes, where he hauled in 7.6 rebounds per game and sent back 15 shots during the 18-game MAAC regular season.
The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year also contributed offensively for the Stags with 10.6 points per game while shooting at an efficient 55.4 percent from the floor. He became the 44th member of the Fairfield Men’s Basketball 1,000-Point Club in the Stags’ MAAC Championship First Round clash with Manhattan on Thursday night.
He is the first Defensive Player of the Year for the Stags since Anthony Johnson in the 2009-10 campaign.
Lou Lopez-Senechal earns MAAC Rookie of the Year laurels as the Stags’ current leader with 11.8 points per game. Lopez-Senechal has shot 41.5 percent from the field with 20 three-pointers and also leads Fairfield at the free throw line with an 85.2 percent success rate.
In conference play, Lopez-Senechal averaged 11.5 points and 1.8 assists per game. She most recently scored a team-best 20 points with three rebounds, two assists and three steals to lead the Stags to a 74-69 win over Niagara in the MAAC Championship First Round.
The last Stag named MAAC Rookie of the Year was Candice Lindsay following the 2003-04 season.
Fairfield Women’s Basketball continues MAAC Championship play on Friday at 1 p.m. against top-seeded Quinnipiac. Visit FairfieldStags.com for updates as well as links to watch and follow the action live.
