Junior guard Diamon Beckford (Upper Darby, Pa.) lets go of a shot during Kent State's 65-64 win over Morehead State in the team's home opener on Nov. 18 at the M.A.C. Center. She knocked down the game-winning three pointer to lift the Golden Flashes to a victory. Beckford finished the game with a career-high 11 points and eight rebounds to help lead Kent State to its first win of the 2011-12 season.

Junior forward out of Upper Darby, Pa. averaged 9.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in her first season wearing the Blue & Gold.

MAC RELEASE

CLEVELAND – Kent State junior forward Diamon Beckford (Upper Darby, Pa.) has been named to the Honorable Mention All-Mid-American Conference Team, as announced by the conference office Tuesday (March 6).

A transfer from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Beckford started 20 of the 23 she games she played in in her first season wearing the Blue & Gold. The Upper Darby, Pa., native led the Golden Flashes and ranked second in the conference in free throw percentage (.839), ranked second on the team and 20^th in the conference in rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game), ranked second on the team and eighth in the conference in field goal percentage (.465) and ranked fourth on the team and 24^th in the conference in scoring (9.9 points per game). Beckford ranked second in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (.462), sixth in field goal percentage (.486), 10^th in free throw percentage (.813) and 15^th in scoring (12.7 points per game) during conference play.

Beckford reached double digits in scoring 10 times in 2011-12, including totaling a career-high 23 points in an 85-73 win over Buffalo on Jan. 19 at the M.A.C. Center. Her debut in front of the Golden Flashes faithful on Nov. 18 was a memorable one, as she knocked down a three pointer with five seconds remaining to lift Kent State to a 65-64 victory over Morehead State in the home opener.

2011-12 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS

First Team All MAC

Alexis Rogers, Bowling Green, Forward

Brittany Hedderson, Buffalo, Guard

Tavelyn James, Eastern Michigan, Guard

Courtney Osborn, Miami, Guard

Tenishia Benson, Ohio, Guard

Second Team All MAC

Sina King, Akron, Forward

Jessica Slagle, Bowling Green, Point Guard

Chrissy Steffen, Bowling Green, Guard

Andola Dortch, Toledo, Guard

Yolanda Richardson, Toledo Center

Third Team All-MAC

Paige Redditt, Eastern Michigan, Guard

Natachia Watkins, Eastern Michigan, Guard

Kirsten Olowinski, Miami, Forward

Maggie Boyer, Miami, Guard

Courtney Ingersoll, Toledo, Guard

Honorable Mention

Taylor Ruper, Akron, Guard

Taylor Johnson, Central Michigan, Forward

Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan, Guard/Forward

Diamon Beckford, Kent State, Forward

Maria Iaquaniello, Western Michigan, Guard

All-Freshman Team

Jasmine Matthews, Bowling Green, Guard

Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan, Guard/Forward

Jessica Green, Central Michigan, Guard

Jasmine Bracey, Central Michigan, Center

Claire Jakubicek, Northern Illinois, Forward

Defensive Player of the Year: Andola Dortch, Toledo, Guard

Sixth Player of the Year: Jalisa Olive, Central Michigan, Guard

Freshman of the Year: Claire Jakubicek, Northern Illinois, Forward

Player of the Year: Tavelyn James, Eastern Michigan, Guard

Coach of the Year: Curt Miller, Bowling Green