BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU women’s basketball duo Raigyne Moncrief and Chloe Jackson earned two of the state’s four specialty awards presented by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Moncrief, a junior guard from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was named the LSWA Player of the Year, while Jackson, a sophomore guard from Upper Marlboro, Md., earned Newcomer of the Year honors as announced by the organization. Awards are voted on by state media representatives and university sports information directors.
Southeastern Louisiana’s Charliee Dugas was selected as the LSWA Freshman of the Year and Loyola’s Kellie Kennedy was named Louisiana Coach of the Year.
Moncrief was joined on the LSWA first team by UNO guard Randi Brown, Tulane guard Kolby Morgan, Northwestern State guard Beatrice Attura and UL-Lafayette guard Jaylyn Gordon.
Jackson was named to the LSWA second team, along with LSU-Shreveport forward Kourtney Pennywell, Louisiana Tech guard Kierra Anthony, Grambling State guard Shakyla Hill and Southeastern Louisiana guard Taylin Underwood.
The third team consists of Loyola (N.O.) forward Meghan Temple, LSU-Shreveport guard Courtney Randle, Louisiana Tech forward Alexus Malone, UL-Lafayette forward Simone Fields and LSU-Alexandria guard Katie Lemieaux.
Moncrief edged UNO’s Brown for the Player of the Year honors, picking up 10 of the 30 first place votes as seven different players from around the state earned at least one vote for the award. Moncrief was named the 2017 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and second team all-SEC while leading the Lady Tigers to the NCAA Tournament. She set the LSU single season record with 107 steals, including 10 vs. Florida.
Jackson ran away with the Newcomer of the Year voting, picking up 17 of the 30 possible votes. The NC State transfer averaged 13.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Tigers. Jackson scored in double figures 22 times, including a career-high 34 vs. Florida.
Seven student-athletes from across the state earned honorable mention accolades, including Leslie Vorphal, Tulane; Cassidy Barrios, Nicholls State; Zoie Miller, Loyola (N.O.); Alyssa Washington, Dillard and Cheyenne Brown, Northwestern State.
First Team All-Louisiana
Raigyne Moncrief, LSU
Randi Brown, UNO
Kolby Morgan, Tulane
Beatrice Attura, Northwestern State
Jaylyn Gordon, Louisiana-Lafayette
Second Team All-Louisiana
Kourtney Pennywell, LSU-Shreveport
Kierra Anthony, Louisiana Tech
Shakyla Hill, Grambling State
Taylin Underwood, Southeastern Louisiana
Chloe Jackson, LSU
Third Team All-Louisiana
Meghan Temple, Loyola (N.O.)
Courtney Randle, LSU-Shreveport
Alexus Malone, Louisiana Tech
Simone Fields, Louisiana-Lafayette
Katie Lemieaux, LSU-Alexandria
Honorable Mention
Leslie Vorphal, Tulane
Cassidy Barrios, Nicholls State
Zoie Miller, Loyola (N.O.)
Alyssa Washington, Dillard
Cheyenne Brown, Northwestern State
Specialty Awards
Player of the Year: Raigyne Moncrief, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Chloe Jackson, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Charliee Dugas, Southeastern Louisiana
Coach of the Year: Kellie Kennedy, Loyola-New Orleans