Pitt sophomore Ashton Gibbs was named second-team All-Big East Sunday. Gibbs, a 6-foot-2 guard who is averaging 16.2 points per game and shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range, was the only Pitt player to earn first-, second- or third-team honors.

It is the first time since 2004 that a Pitt player was not named first-team all-conference.

Gibbs is the 13th Pitt player to earn second-team All-Big East honors and the first since Levance Fields in 2007.

The Big East will announce the rest of its postseason awards today and Tuesday. Gibbs is a candidate for the Big East's most improved player award. Senior guard Jermaine Dixon is up for defensive player of the year and the conference's sportsmanship award. Junior forward Gilbert Brown is a candidate for sixth man of the year. And Jamie Dixon is a candidate for coach of the year.

Junior swingman Damian Saunders was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference first team Sunday and also was selected as the conference's defensive player of the year.

Saunders averaged 14.9 points, 11.4 rebounds per game and had 74 assists, 84 steals and 93 blocks in the Dukes' 30-game regular season.

In addition, senior Jason Duty, an accounting major who has accepted a job with PriceWaterhouse after graduation, was named to the conference's all-academic team.

Duquesne (16-14) plays at St. Bonaventure (14-15) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round of the conference tournament.

In NCAA Division II action, California University of Pennsylvania women's team earned an at-large bid and will be a host team for the tournament's first two rounds. The Vulcans (23-7) will entertain Virginia State at 8 p.m. Friday with West Liberty (22-8) meeting Millersville (23-6) at 6 p.m. The same night, Seton Hill (22-7) will play Fayetteville State (20-9) at 8:30 p.m. at Gannon's Hammermille Center in Erie.

In the men's tournament, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion IUP (26-2) will entertain Fairmont State (18-7) Saturday.

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