Fleming, Insel Highlight Five Women's Basketball CNE Award-Winners

Posted: Feb 25, 2025

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott women's basketball team earned five Conference of New England (CNE) postseason awards, with senior forward Libby Fleming (Bangor, Maine) and head coach Jamie Insel highlighting the group as major award winners.

Fleming was named the CNE Defensive Player of the Year, while Insel was named the Coach of the Year.

Additionally, Emma Shinney (Wakefield, Mass.) was named to the All-CNE First Team, while Sarah Dempsey (Windham, N.H.) was named to the Second Team and Fleming the Third Team.

Lastly, Katelyn Konareski (Milford, Conn.) was named as the Gulls' representative on the CNE Community Service Team for her charitable contributions and outstanding leadership within the Endicott community.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | ALL-CNE THIRD TEAM

Libby Fleming | Sr. | F | Bangor, Maine

Fleming is the first student-athlete in program history to be named conference Defensive Player of the Year.

In her 25 games played this season (all starts), she averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds per game (4.4 defensive, 3.7 offensive), 1.3 blocks per game, 1.2 steals per game, and 1.6 assists per game in 31.7 minutes, all while shooting a team-high 53.2% from the field.

Her scoring, blocks, steals, and field goal percentage were all career-highs.

She ranked first in total blocks (33) and blocks per game (1.3), first in field goal percentage (minimum 10 field goal attempts; 53.2%), second in rebounds per game (8.1), and seventh in minutes (792 total, 31.7 per game) in the CNE rankings.

Her six double-doubles on the year ranked second on the team, behind Dempsey's seven.

Among her impressive defensive performances this year included a 19-rebound game against Emerson on 11/26/24 (career-high; fifth most in program history), a five-rejection showing against Salem State on 12/14/24 (career-high; T-14th all time), and a 10-rebound, three-block, and three-steal outing against Nichols on 2/11/25.

The senior forward's defensive presence in the perimeter and on the interior led the Blue and Green to a second ranked CNE defense (57.4 points allowed per game; 55.6 in CNE matchups), and contributed to the program's first 20-win season since 2013-14.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jamie Insel | First Season | Assumption '14

In her first season as the Endicott women's basketball head coach, Jamie Insel has garnered CNE Coach of the Year honors.

Insel orchestrated Endicott's highest winning season since 2013-14.

She guided the Gulls to the second ranked offense (68.2 points per game) and the second ranked defense (57.4 points allowed per game) in the CNE. It is the first time the Gulls have ranked top five in both categories since 2019-20, which is the last time they were crowned as CNE champions.

Additionally, the Gulls' 16-2 in-conference record was the best in program history, topping the 2004-05 team's 15-2 record.

She looks to add a conference championship to the resume as the two seed in the CNE tournament.

ALL-CNE FIRST TEAM

Emma Shinney | So. | G | Wakefield, Mass.

Shinney posted career-highs of 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in her sophomore season.

Additionally, she led the CNE in assists (123; 4.9 per game) for the second straight season.

Her consistency on both ends of the floor enabled the Gulls to be a top team in the conference both defensively and offensively.

Her all-around play was on display against Suffolk on December 10, when she posted a career-high 25 points and also hauled down 11 rebounds.

She also became the first player in program history with two career 12+ assist games after her 12-assist evening against Gordon on 12/7/24. The Gulls went on to win that CNE game in convincing fashion (82-34) thanks in large part to Shinney's brilliant playmaking.

ALL-CNE SECOND TEAM

Sarah Dempsey | Sr. | F | Windham, N.H.

Dempsey averaged 12.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks while starting all 25 games for the Blue and Green.

She also shot 50.4% from the floor and 73.4% from the free throw line, both of which ranked among top four in the CNE.

Most notably this season, she became Endicott's all-time leading scorer. She currently sits atop the program leaderboard with 1,614 points.

Her paint scoring and defense were key for the Gulls down the stretch of the season. On 1/7/25, she poured in a season-high 30 points to lead the Gulls past UNE. It was the third 30+ point performance of her career, which is more than any other student-athlete in program history.