For Immediate Release: July 7, 2006
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Laws receives America East Conference Women's Sportsmanship Award

VESTAL, N.Y.-- Recent graduate Rachel Laws (Wyncote, Pa.), who concluded a stellar four-year career with the women's basketball team, was chosen as the winner of the women's first America East Sportsmanship Awards. She now becomes a finalist for the NCAA Female Sportsmanship Awards, to be determined by the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct.

Laws was selected by the America East Sportsmanship Committee, which includes athletic administrators, coaches and student-athletes from the nine member institutions. She chosen based on demonstrating good sportsmanship and ethical behavior in daily participation in athletics, demonstrating good citizenship outside the sports competition setting, and maintaining good academic performance.

Laws was a three-time all-conference selection for the Bearcats, and finished fifth all-time in school history with 1,246 career points. As a standout player she was often required to attend post-game media conferences. Head coach Rich Conover was impressed that Laws would always compliment the opponent and was never critical of her teammates, the coaching staff or officials. Laws was active in the community, participating in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk" in each of her four years, raising over $7,000 for the cause. She served as a mentor to young students at Clayton Avenue Elementary School in Vestal, N.Y. and participated in several free clinics for Binghamton area youths.

Laws graduated with a degree in African American Studies in May and will pursue a Ph.D. at Michigan State University in the fall.