Connecticut junior All-American Diana Taurasi was unanimously selected as the 2002-03 Big East Player of the Year in a vote of the league's head coaches.

The Huskies two home two other major awards, as Geno Auriemma was name Coach of the Year for the second straight season, and sophomore Ashley Battle was voted the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

Rutgers sophomore Cappie Pondexter, who sat out last reason for academic reasons, was unanimously voted the Big East Rookie of the Year, while Boston College sophomore Jessalyn Deveny was honored as the Most Improved Player. The Big East Sportsmanship Award went to Seton Hall senior Leslie Ardon.

The awards were announced at the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Championship Presented by State Farm awards banquet.

A look at the awards and all-league teams:

All-Big East first team
Rebekkah Brunson, Georgetown; Becky Gottstein, Boston College; Trish Juhline, Villanova; Ieva Kublina, Virginia Tech; Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers; Diana Taurasi*, Connecticut.

Second team: Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame; Katie Davis, Villanova; Jessalyn Deveny, Boston College; Tamara James, Miami; Julie McBride, Syracuse.

Third team: Kate Bulger, West Virginia; Mauri Horton, Rutgers; Shannon Perry, Syracuse; Laine Selwyn, Pittsburgh; Ann Strother, Connecticut.

Honorable mention: Amber Jacobs, Boston College; Courtney Mix, Villanova; Alicia Ratay, Notre Dame; Brianne Stepherson, Boston College.

All-Rookie team
Tamara James*, Miami; Courtney LaVere, Notre Dame; Carrie Mason, Virginia Tech; Cappie Pondexter*, Rutgers; Ann Strother, Connecticut; Barbara Turner, Connecticut.

Individual awards
Player of the Year: Diana Taurasi*, Connecticut
Rookie of the Year: Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers
Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut (18th season)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ashley Battle, Connecticut
Most Improved Plaeyr: Jessalyn Deveny, Boston College
Sportsmanship Award: Leslie Ardon, Seton Hall
Big East Basketball Scholar-Athlete: Alicia Ratay, Notre Dame

* Unanimous selection.
Note: Due to a tie in the voting there are six members on the All-Rookie team.