DALLAS – Conference USA has announced its postseason Women’s Basketball All-Conference, All-Freshman and All-Defensive Teams, along with the Superlative Awards (Newcomer, Sixth Player, Defensive, Freshman, Player and Coach). The CUSA awards are voted on by the league’s coaches, sports information directors and a media representative from each school.
FIU’s Rhema Collins became the first Panther to be named CUSA Player of the Year and she was also tabbed Newcomer of the Year. MTSU’s Blair Baugus, who won eight Freshman of the Week awards this season, is the league’s Freshman of the Year. Sam Houston’s Fanta Kone picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors. UTEP’s Mary Moses Amanyio earned Sixth Player of the Year. LA Tech’s Brooke Stoehr claims her first Coach of the Year honors.
Collins was sensational in her first year with the Panthers, as she led FIU to 12 league wins this season, marking the most conference wins in program history since joining CUSA. She was second in the conference in scoring (17.2) and ranks third in rebounds per game (9.0), playing in 26 games and making 23 starts. She scored 40 points against Georgia State on Dec. 5, it’s the most points by any member of CUSA this season and tied for 17th of most points scored in a game in NCAA. The junior guard notched 13 double-doubles on the season which is tied for first in CUSA. Overall, the Nassau, Bahamas, native tallied a total of 448 points, 234 rebounds, 54 steals, 41 blocks and 35 assists, while shooting 45.5 percent from the field.
Baugus is tabbed as the league’s Freshman of the Year after earning eight weekly honors in her rookie campaign. The Waynesboro, Tenn., native led all freshmen in the league, averaging 13.2 points, a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game in conference play and 13 double-doubles. She ranks first on the team in total rebounds (162) and offensive rebounds (62) against league opponents. Baugus shot 47.0 percent from the field in CUSA action while playing 33.1 minutes per game. She posted five 20-point games, including a career-high 29 points against Missouri State on March 7.
Stoehr guided the Lady Techsters to their first regular season title since the 2010-11 season. , She led Louisiana Tech to 24 wins, its most in a single season since joining Conference USA in 2013-14. LA Tech has won 17 consecutive conference games, becoming the most consecutive conference wins by a Conference USA team over the last 25 seasons. Of her 17 conference wins, 12 were by double figures, including five by 20 or more points.
Kone earned Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in assists (5.1) and steals (3.5). She joins Southern Miss’ Jamierra Faulkner (2013-14 & 2014-15) as the only players in league history to lead CUSA in each category in consecutive seasons. Kone ranks eighth nationally with 3.5 steals per game, all while logging the most minutes in the conference at 35.1 minutes per game. Offensively, she leads the Bearkats in scoring and ranks 10th in CUSA at 13.3 points per game, while tallying 372 points, 19 double-figure scoring performances along with four 20-plus point outings, a league-high 137 assists and 117 rebounds on the season.
Amaniyo picked up the Sixth Player of the Year award after providing elite rebounding and consistent production for the Miners off the bench. Through league action, she averaged 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while shooting a team-best 51.9 percent from the field in just 22.6 minutes per game. She has scored double figures in 14 games overall, including seven in CUSA play, and posted seven games with 10 or more rebounds. Amaniyo opened the season with 16 points and a program-record 22 rebounds versus Prairie View, becoming the first Miner since 2013–14 to record multiple games with 17 or more rebounds.
The CUSA All-First Team consisted of FIU’s Collins and Parris Atkins, Liberty’s Avery Mills and Emmy Stout, LA Tech’s Paris Bradley, MTSU’s Baugus, Missouri State’s Kaemyn Bekemeier and Sam Houston’s Kone.
The CUSA All-Second Team consisted of Delaware’s Ande’a Cherisier, Jax State’s Mya Barnes, Kennesaw State’s Keyarah Berry, LA Tech, Jordan Marshall and Jianna Morris, MTSU’s Alayna Contreras, Missouri State’s Lainie Douglas andSam Houston’s Deborah Ogayemi.
The five honorees for the All-Defensive Team were FIU’s Atkins and Collins, Jax State’s Barnes, Missouri State’s Maycee James and Sam Houston’s Kone.
Delaware’s Kailah Correa, Liberty’s Ify Nwaobi, MTSU’s Baugusand Macie Phifer, along with Missouri State’s Maiesha Washington were named to the All-Freshman team.