BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU junior forward Alexis Hyder was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Newcomer of the Year by a vote of the state’s media
representatives and university media relations directors.
Louisiana Tech senior forward Brandi Wingate was named the LSWA Player of the Year while UL-Lafayette’s Garry Brodhead was named Coach of the Year and Grambling State’s Shakyla Hill was tabbed Freshman of the Year.
A native of Austin, Texas, Hyder also was named to the All-Louisiana Second Team for her efforts with the Lady Tigers this season. Hyder easily outdistanced the competition in the newcomer
of the year voting, picking up 17 of the 27 votes for the honor. The North Texas transfer led LSU in scoring and rebounding with 12.2 points and 7.9 boards, while ranking in the top 10 in
the SEC in both categories. She posted 10 double doubles during the season, including seven against league foes, while leading LSU in scoring 13 times and in rebounding 18 times. She
scored a season-high 23 points against Top 25 opponents Kentucky and Missouri.
Wingate is joined on the LSWA first team by UL-Lafayette guard Keke Veal, Tulane guard Kolby Morgan, Northwestern State guard Janelle Perez and McNeese State guard Jalyn Johnson.
The second team is comprised of Hyder, along with Xavier guard Whitney Gathright, LSU-Alexandria guard Reagan Maricle, LSU-Shreveport forward Kourtney Pennywell and ULM forward Alayshia
Hunter.
The third team consists of Hill, New Orleans guard Randi Brown, McNeese State guard Allison Baggett, LSU-Alexandria guard Taylor Maricle and UL-Lafayette guard Kia Wilridge.
Although six different players picked up at least one vote for player of the year honors, Wingate took home the award after receiving 10 of the 27 votes. The Columbia, Maryland native
averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds a game while earning first team all-Conference USA honors. The four-time C-USA Player of the Week recipient recorded 26 double-digit scoring games, including 14 performances of 20 or more points. She shot 54 percent from the field, 9-of-20 from the three-point line and 77 percent from the free-throw line.
Hill ran away with the freshman of the year honors, securing 20 of the 27 votes. The Little Rock, Arkansas native earned second team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors after
averaging 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. She led Grambling State in scoring and rebounding, ranking among the SWAC leaders in numerous offensive categories.
In the closest voting of the ballot, Brodhead edged Tulane’s Lisa Stockton for coach of the year honors. The fourth-year Ragin’ Cajun coach led the team to a 25-10 record, tying the
program record for wins in a season. While moving into second place all-time in career wins at UL-Lafayette, he coached the Cajuns to victories over SEC foes Ole Miss and Arkansas. He
guided the Cajuns to the Women’s Basketball Invitational championship.
Seven student-athletes from across the state earned honorable mention accolades, including Liann McCarthy, Nicholls; Briana Oglesby, Loyola-New Orleans; Pearl Paulo, LSU-Alexandria; Nanna Pool, Southeastern Louisiana; Brooke Pumroy, LA Tech; Quiana Tucker, LSU-Shreveport; and Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane.
First Team All-State
Brandi Wingate, LA Tech
Keke Veal, UL-Lafayette
Kolby Morgan, Tulane
Janelle Perez, Northwestern St.
Jalyn Johnson, McNeese State
Second Team All-State
Whitney Gathright, Xavier
Alexis Hyder, LSU
Reagan Maricle, LSU-Alexandria
Kourtney Pennywell, LSU-Shreveport
Alayshia Hunter, ULM
Third Team All-State
Shakyla Hill, Grambling State
Randi Brown, New Orleans
Allison Baggett, McNeese State
Taylor Maricle, LSU-Alexandria
Kia Wilridge, UL-Lafayette
Honorable Mention
Liann McCarthy, Nicholls
Briana Oglesby, Loyola-New Orleans
Pearl Paulo, LSU-Alexandria
Nanna Pool, Southeastern Louisiana
Brooke Pumroy, LA Tech
Quiana Tucker, LSU-Shreveport
Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane.
Specialty Awards
Player of the Year: Brandi Wingate, LA Tech
Freshman of the Year: Shakyla Hill, Grambling State
Newcomer of the Year: Alexis Hyder, LSU
Coach of the Year: Garry Brodhead, UL-Lafayette