CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference announced the 2022-23 Women's Basketball postseason honors Wednesday morning. Eastern Oregon University collected their fair share of hardware earning four All-Conference nods and three individual awards. Bayley Brennan was named Newcomer of the Year while Shaelie Burgess earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors sharing the award with OIT's Melissa Lee. Head Coach Anji Weissenfluh was named the CCC Coach of the Year as well.
 
"I have to give the credit to each of my 17 players," Weissenfluh said. "They are the ones who day in and day out put in the work to make us successful."


Eastern was well represented in the All-Conference honors with Shaelie Burgess, Sailor Liefke, and Beverly Slater being named All-CCC. EOU picked up one more nod with an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in Bayley Brennan.
 
Burgess had an impressive year as an addition to the Mountie roster and earned her third All-Conference honor as well as third Defensive Player of the Year selection. The senior was a force all year on defense setting the single-season record for blocks with 70 to this point averaging 2.26 per game. Offensively the forward out of Honolulu, Hawaii was an efficient scorer averaging 9.7 points per game on 52% shooting. She also averaged 7.2 rebounds per game which was second on the team behind Slater.
 
"Shaelie is a game changer, her presence alone makes offensive players think twice about driving into the key," Weissenfluh said. "She has been instrumental to what we have been able to do defensively this year and I'm so glad to see that what she does didn't go unnoticed by opponents."
 
Her counterpart on the other side of the paint also was a force to be reckoned with. Beverly Slater returned to form this season after sitting out a year due to injury. The junior led the team in rebounding with 10 rebounds per game and was third on the team in scoring averaging 9.9 points per game. An all-around threat, the former CCC Player of the Year also was second on the team in assists this season with 76, just four behind Liefke. This year's selection marks her second All-CCC selection.
 
 
EOU had just as much talent in the backcourt with two more All-Conference honorees. Sailor Liefke and Bayley Brennan. Liefke picked up right where she left off as an All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American selection a year ago. This year the senior led the team in scoring averaging 12.8 points per game while also averaging 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Liefke also has led the team in steals to this point with 33. This year's selection marks her third career All-Conference selection at EOU.
 
Brennan, another new addition to the roster this year stepped in making an instant impact with her ability to score and stretch the floor. Through 30 games this season the junior has averaged 10.3 points per game (second on the team) along with 1.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The Idaho native has been one of the best shooters in the country shooting 43.3% from beyond the arc on 5.5 attempts per game which ranks 14th in the nation. Only two other players in the top 15 shot a higher percentage on more than five threes per game. Brennan was named All-Conference Honorable Mention and Newcomer of the Year for her performance this season.
 
"Bayley has quite literally made a splash in the conference," Weissenfluh said. "She can change a game really quickly and when she gets hot, there is no stopping her."
 
To wrap up the awards Head Coach Anji Weissenfluh was also named Coach of the Year. This year's honor marks her eighth time winning the award (last was in 2018-19 season). Weissenfluh won her 12th regular season CCC Title this year (shared with Lewis-Clark State) and her seventh CCC Tournament Championship as of a 75-59 win over Lewis-Clark State last night. The Mounties went 26-2 in the regular season highlighted by 4 wins over top-25 ranked teams and are currently on a 19-game winning streak. Weissenfluh also has led the Mounties to a No. 12 ranking in the national polls to this point in the season.
 
"I am honored to be recognized by the coaches of the Cascade Conference," Weissenfluh said. "We also couldn't have had the success we have had without Tiffanie Ulmer and Jordan Klebaum-Johnston. They work tirelessly and I am so thankful for them, it is truly a team effort."
 
EOU now waits to see who and wear they will play for the NAIA National Tournament opening round taking place next week on March 7 and 8. Matchups will be announced by the NAIA on tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.