PHILADELPHIA (4/16/03) - Saint Joseph's University women's basketball standout Erin Brady has been named the team's Most Valuable Player at SJU's 27th annual awards banquet held at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Pa. Brady received one of nine awards handed out by the Hawks, who finished the year with a 19-11 record, won the Atlantic 10 Conference's Eastern Division and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Brady, who transferred to St. Joe's from American and sat out the 2001-02 season due to NCAA regulations, made an immediate impact in her first season on the hardwood. The junior point guard took the reins of the team and served as a steadying influence on the court. After adjusting from a year away from live game competition, she proved to be particularly dangerous in the second half of the season, raising her scoring average by nearly 10 points per game over the final 22 contests and topping the squad with six games of 20 or more points. For the season, Brady ranked second on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg.) and topped the squad in both assists (5.3) and steals (2.1). Among the others honored were junior Stephanie Graff (Co-Best Defensive Player), junior Irina Krasnoshiok (Best Offensive Player and Most Improved Player Award), freshman Maura McBryan (Chris DiJulia Inspirational Award), senior Colleen McGahan (Loyalty and Leadership Award), junior Amra Mehmedic (Emory Ross Academic Excellence Award), junior Elizabeth "Hootie" Mohan (Unsung Hero Award) and senior Natasha Pronga (Co-Best Defensive Player and Roosevelt Hunter Community Service Award).