Plumley Named Southland Women’s Basketball Player of the Year

[NickKBTV]

KATY, Texas – After leading Lamar to its first regular season co-championship, junior guard Jenna Plumley was named the 2009-10 Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year by vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Monday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference basketball teams.

Plumley also received newcomer of the Year honors joining former Lamar standout Shawnta Vanzant (2001) as the only players in Southland history named both player and newcomer of the year in the same season.

Central Arkansas forward Megan Herbert was named freshman of the year. UT Arlington junior forward Shalyn Martin was named defensive player of the year and UCA’s Matt Daniel received coach of the year honors.

A native of Red Rock, Okla., Plumley led Lamar to not only its first regular season title but its first  No. 1 seed in the Southland tournament. In her first season with Lamar, Plumley led the Lady Cardinals to their best season as a Southland member posting 23 overall wins and 13 conference wins. Ranked sixth in the league in scoring (14.6), Plumley had a monumental season leading the league in made three-point baskets (97) setting the Southland record and led in assists (196) setting the Lamar team record. Both numbers rank in the top 10 in the NCAA.

Herbert recorded one of the top seasons in Southland history. A native of Rogers, Ark., Herbert is one of only four players in the conference to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in the same season. Herbert’s 633 points are the most scored in a season since 1997 and her 399 rebounds are the most since 1990, ranking fourth in conference history. Herbert set the league record for most free throws (190) and led the league in shooting (.579). Herbert’s 27 double-doubles are the most in a season including 23 consecutive ranking second all-time in NCAA Division I behind former Oklahoma All-American Courtney Paris (33).

Martin is the first UT Arlington player named defensive player of the year. A native of Arlington, Texas, Martin ranked second in the league in blocks (30) and was fifth overall in rebounds (234) with the majority coming on the defensive end (165).

Central Arkansas coach Matt Daniel received coach of the year honors after leading the Sugar Bears to a 15-win improvement from last season. The turnaround ranks first in NCAA Division I this season and is the eighth-biggest improvement ever in Division I play. UCA finished 15-1 at home (.938) for the most home wins in a season in program history and the most in the Southland this season.

Joining Plumley and Herbert on the first-team is Stephen F. Austin senior guard Whitney Cormier, UT Arlington senior guard Meghan Nelson and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi junior guard Jade Davis. Cormier receives her second consecutive first-team honor while Nelson and Davis receive their first first-team awards.

Lamar and UTSA tied for the most selections with three each. Joining Plumley from Lamar is second-team selection senior forward Darika Hill and third-team member freshman guard Kalis Loyd. UTSA sophomore guard Whitney York and freshman guard/forward Judy Jones received second-team selections. Junior forward Ashleigh Franklin received third-team honors.

Other second-team members include Nicholls junior guard Ricshanda Bickham and Sam Houston State senior guard Brittany Brooks. Rounding out the third-team members are Stephen F. Austin sophomore guard Tammara Marion and Southeastern Louisiana senior forward Zevy Ivory.

The 2010 State Farm Southland Conference Basketball Tournament will be played this week at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. Four women’s quarterfinal games will be played Tuesday beginning at noon with semifinal games Thursday at 12:05 p.m. and approximately 2:33 p.m. The championship game will be played Friday at 7:05 p.m.  Both the semifinals and championship game will be televised on the Southland Conference Television Network and ESPN Full Court. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Merrell Center box office.



2009-10 All-Southland Conference Teams



First Team
School
Pos.
Cl.
Hometown

Jenna Plumley
Lamar
G
Jr.
Red Rock, Okla.

Megan Herbert
Central Arkansas
F
Fr.
Rogers, Ark.

Whitney Cormier
Stephen F. Austin
G
Sr.
Fort Worth, Texas

Meghan Nelson
UT Arlington
G
Sr.
Cedar Hill, Texas

Jade Davis
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
G
Jr.
West Columbia, Texas


 
 
 
 

Second Team
School
Pos.
Cl.
Hometown

Whitney York
UTSA
G
So.
Bryan, Texas

Ricshanda Bickham
Nicholls
G
Jr.
New Orleans, La.

Darika Hill
Lamar
F
Sr.
New Iberia, La.

Brittany Brooks
Sam Houston State
G
Sr.
Spring, Texas

Judy Jones
UTSA
G/F
Fr.
Monroe, La.


 
 
 
 

Third Team
School
Pos.
Cl.
Hometown

Shalyn Martin
UT Arlington
F
Jr.
Arlington, Texas

Tammara Marion
Stephen F. Austin
G
So.
Houston, Texas

Ashleigh Franklin
UTSA
F
Jr.
Dallas, Texas

Zevy Ivory
Southeastern La.
F
Sr.
Shreveport, La.

Kalis Loyd
Lamar
G
Fr.
Malmoe, Sweden




Honorable Mention: Tammara Simmons, UTA; Brittiany Houston, NWLA; Nakeia Guiden, UCA; Adrienne Scott, AMCC; Trashanna Smith, LU; Victoria Davis, TXST; Kiara Johnson, MCN.



Player of the Year – Jenna Plumley, Lamar

Newcomer of the Year – Jenna Plumley, Lamar

Freshman of the Year – Megan Herbert, Central Arkansas

Defensive Player of the Year – Shalyn Martin, UT Arlington

Coach of the Year – Matt Daniel, Central Arkansas

[KFDM COOP]

Huge congrats!!!!!

[Spanky]

very much deserved!!

[Guest mffl]

Indeed, VERY proud of the whole team, now finish this year up right and win the SLC!

[LumberCard]

Congrats to all selected!

The fact that Tray Smith was not named Defensive Player of the Year is an ABSOLUTE JOKE. SHe had nearly double the blocks of UTA's Martin and Martin had about 15 more defensive rebounds?!?!?! I think the coaches and SID's as well as the SLC itself should be ashamed of itself for naming Shaylyn Martin defensive player of the year when Tray Smith is two times the defender she is. WHAT A JOKE!

[DP#1FAN]

Congrats Jenna!!!!!!! She is a great point guard. Congrats to all.