BRADFORD, Pa. – Pitt-Bradford junior guard Ali Rinfrette, a Bradford High School graduate, is the 2017 AMCC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
(Cover photo of Ali Rinfrette (left) and Brittany Watts. Photo courtesy of Pitt-Bradford athletics)
Rinfrette led the Panthers in scoring and ranked third among AMCC players with 21.0 points per game. She was first in the AMCC with 526 total points and 14th nationally. She finished 17th in NCAA Division III in scoring among all qualifying players. Rinfrette led the conference and ranked in the top 40 nationally with 64 made three-pointers. Her 38 percent shooting clip from behind the arc is tops among all league players and was fifth in the league with 90 made free throws. The 5’6″ guard led the Panthers in rebounding per game (7.3) and ranks in the top 10 among all AMCC players in defensive rebounds (143) and total rebounds (182). She finished among the top 10 players in the league in total assists (79) and steals (66), averaged 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game while shooting 43 percent from the floor.
“It’s a great honor,” Rinfrette said. “This was one of my goals going into this season, and it feels awesome achieving it. I think it’s an honor and representation of my entire team and the hard work we have all put in this season. Without my teammates and coaches, receiving this award would not be possible. I’m so thankful to have been apart of this team.”
Rinfrette, who set UPB’s school record with 38 points against D’Youville Jan. 9, was joined on the All-AMCC team by Johnsonburg graduate and teammate Brittany Watts, who was named a third-team selection as a senior.
Watts, a senior, started all 27 games for Pitt-Bradford while leading the team in rebounding (7.3), double-doubles (8) and total blocks (15). She ranked second in scoring with 12.9 points per game.
Rinfrette is the fourth Panther in program history to be named Player of the Year joining Alicia Kimmel (2014-15), Katie Moore (2007-08) and Julia Augustus (2002-03). She appeared on the first-team for the second straight season and is a three-time all-conference selection. Watts was a third-team pick, earning all-league honors for the first time in her career.
Rinfrette scored her 1,000th career point on Nov. 29 against Houghton and enters her senior year needing just 96 points to break the school’s all-time scoring record.
Rinfrette and Watts led the Panthers to a 16-11 record this season and the AMCC tournament semifinals.
