INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Kentucky women's basketball forward Kailey Coffey has been tabbed one of the Horizon League's top rookies according to the release of the regular-season awards on Wednesday morning. Coffey was named to the All-Freshman Team, making her the second player since NKU moved to the Horizon League to be named among the league's finest freshmen.
 
"I'm really proud of Kailey and her willingness to be able to do whatever the team needs her to do," commented head coach Camryn Whitaker. "She was a point guard in high school, so for her to come in and play the post for us, work hard at posting up and scoring, and be our leading rebounder is extremely important. This award is great for the team and it's something for us to build on."
  
IUPUI's Macee Williams was named the Freshman of the Year, and the All-Freshman Team was rounded out by Detroit Mercy's Lexey Tobel, Green Bay's Karly Murphy and Youngstown State's Chelsea Olson.
 
During the Horizon League regular season, Coffey ranked second on the team in scoring with 8.7 points per game and pulled down a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game. She also added 24 assists, 19 steals and nine blocks throughout 18 games. Her .505 shooting percentage was not only second among the freshmen, but was fifth among all players in the League. She also ranks 16^th among all rebounders in the league.
 
Coffey has had many memorable games this season, but she had a career performance against UIC on Jan. 21 in which she recorded a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, both career bests for the freshman. Additionally, she scored 14 of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime period to lead the Norse in overcoming a 19-point deficit to win the game in overtime. For the entire season, Coffey has posted double-digit points in 10 games and has had double-digit rebounds in five contests, but has led the Norse in rebounding 14 times.
 
The honor is not the first time that Coffey has been recognized for her play this year. She was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Dec. 11 after her performances against Austin Peay and Indiana. It was the first time that an NKU rookie had earned a weekly accolade since Nov. 23, 2015.
 
The Norse enter the postseason on Friday, March 2, when eighth-seeded NKU takes on ninth-seeded Detroit Mercy in the first round of the Little Caesars Horizon League Basketball Championships, with the winner moving on to face top-seeded Green Bay on Saturday. Tip-off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.