Mill Valley’s Polansky Nabs Ivy League Honor

Over a stellar basketball career at the Branson School, Mill Valley native Lauren Polansky established herself as that rare player who can change the course of a game – or even a season – by dominating on the defensive end.

Polansky has carried that defensive prowess to Princeton University, and as the Tigers get ready to take on Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday in Philadelphia, the sophomore point guard was named the Ivy League’s 2011 Defensive Player of the Year.

“It’s rare when a player can change the game single-handedly on the defensive end, but that’s exactly what LP does,” Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart said, referring to Polansky by her longtime nickname. “She guards over 94 feet for the entire game, never wavering, and can guard anyone on the floor at any given time. We are fifth in the country on the defensive end, and LP is a big reason for that. She’s a special defender and we’re glad she’s in the Orange and Black.”

Polansky started for the Tigers in all but two of their 27 games, and though she averaged less than three points a game, she filled up the box score elsewhere. She finished sixth in the league in steals with 52 and seventh in assists with 80. Polansky led the team in assists 13 times this season and steals 10 times. She is also fourth on the team in both rebounds and blocks.

"I feel very honored to receive this award,” Polansky said. “Everyone on our team has put in endless hours of hard work and it's wonderful to see it pay off and be recognized by others."

Princeton is coming off one of its most successful seasons in years, having won the Ivy League championship for the second straight year. The Tigers garnered the 12th seed in the East Regional of the NCAA Tourney with a 24-4 overall record and a 13-1 mark in the Ivy League.

Princeton led by Addie Micir, the unanimous pick as the 2011 Ivy League Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, the first Princeton women’s player to receive the honor in the program’s history.

Polansky had one of the best careers in the history of Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) girls basketball. Over her four years, the Bulls had a 121-19 record, including a 30-4 mark in her senior season, when she was the MCAL player of the year. She was also a key contributor to Branson’s two state championship teams as a sophomore and junior. She led the MCAL in steals and assists all four years.