(L-R): Laura Murray, Sophia Aleksandravicius and Dakota Dukes
Aleksandravicius Sweeps SoCon Player of the Year Awards; Murray and Dukes Honored
3/6/2013 12:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
SoCon Tournament Central
SoCon Tournament Bracket (pdf)
Buy Davidson Action Photos at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Senior Sophia Aleksandravicius of the Davidson women's basketball team made program history again as she became the first Wildcat to earn a second Southern Conference Player of the Year honor, while also grabbing the Defender of the Year for a second straight season, as announced by the SoCon office Wednesday afternoon.
Joining Aleksandravicius on the coaches all-conference team was junior Laura Murray (Harrisburg, Pa.), who was also tabbed All-SoCon Second Team by the media. Freshman Dakota Dukes (Raleigh, N.C.) became the sixth Wildcat to earn a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman Team as she was named to both the coaches and media's first-year team.
The school's all-time career record holder in points (1,775) and rebounds (1,092) along with five other records, Aleksandravicius became the sixth player in SoCon history since 1985-86 to garner back-to-back player of the year awards. The senior is also the first player to earn defender of the year twice, since it became an award in 2007-08.
Aleksandravicius finished the regular season leading the SoCon in rebounds (career-best 9.9 rpg), blocks (85) and defensive rebounds (7.2 rpg), while ranking third in scoring at 15.8 per game. She was named the player of the week three times this year to give her five for her career and was the league's player of the month for January and February, pushing her career total to four monthly honors.
Aleksandravicius registered a career-high 16 double-doubles to push her four-year total to 46. The Pound Ridge, N.Y. native, also recorded the program's first triple-double, Feb. 16, when she scored 20 points, pulled in 10 rebounds and blocked a single-game school-record 10 shots.
The 6-foot-5 forward was named to the media's first team, making her the first Wildcat to earn first-team honors three times on both the coaches and media team.
Besides her school records, Aleksandravicius also has etched her name in the SoCon record book. She holds the career blocks mark at 322 and her 95 blocks in a single-season are second-most as is her 10-block game, Feb. 16. Aleksandravicius is in the top-10 in six other categories, including currently ranking 10th in points and fifth in rebounds all-time.
Murray, a two-time first-team member on the coaches team, is second on the squad in scoring at 11.9 per game. She reached the double-digit mark 18 times this year, including a pair of 20-point outings with a high of 24 coming at Rugters, Nov. 25.
The former SoCon Freshman of the Year became the 16th Wildcat in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, going over the mark in the first half vs. Chattanooga at home, Jan. 18. Murray currently sits in eighth all-time in points and her 149 career three-pointers are good for fifth most.
A regular in the starting lineup since day one of this year, Dukes has been a solid contributor. She has started 27 of Davidson's 30 games and is second on the team in shooting at 51.3 percent. The freshman is averaging just over five points and four rebounds a game.
Dukes has scored in double digits five times this season, with a season-high 15 points coming against cross-county rival Charlotte.
Aleksandravicius and Murray were also both honored by College Sports Madness, with each getting first-team nods and Aleksandravicius picking up the player of the year award.
Chattanooga's Wes Moore was named the SoCon Coach of the Year by both his peers and the media. The coaches voted Furman's Holli Wilkins freshman of the year, while the media tabbed Lucy Mason of UNCG the top rookie. The Ann Lashley Inspiration Award, which honors a student-athlete or coach who has shown outstanding courage or service, was given to Wofford's Mariah Masalin.
Davidson, winners of 15 of its last 19 games, enters the SoCon Tournament this weekend as the No. 2 seed after going 16-4 in league play with a 19-11 overall record. It will play the winner of the No. 7 Furman / No. 10 UNCG matchup on Saturday, March 9, at 4:30 p.m. in Kimmel Arena on the campus of UNC Asheville.
Coaches All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year – Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Freshman of the Year – Holli Wilkins, Furman
Defensive Player of the Year – Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ann Lashley Inspiration Award Winner – Mariah Masalin, Wofford
Coach of the Year – Wes Moore, Chattanooga
Coaches All-Conference Team
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga
Ali Ford, Elon
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Jazmine Martin, Samford
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga
Coaches All-Freshman Team
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Lucy Mason, UNCG
Tatianna Jackson, Chattanooga
Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Media All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year – Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Freshman of the Year – Lucy Mason, UNCG
Coach of the Year – Wes Moore, Chattanooga
First Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ali Ford, Elon
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga
Second Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Jazmine Martin, Samford
Daniella Motley, Wofford
All-Freshman Team
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Tatianna Jackson, Chattanooga
Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina
Lucy Mason, UNCG
SoCon Tournament Bracket (pdf)
Buy Davidson Action Photos at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Senior Sophia Aleksandravicius of the Davidson women's basketball team made program history again as she became the first Wildcat to earn a second Southern Conference Player of the Year honor, while also grabbing the Defender of the Year for a second straight season, as announced by the SoCon office Wednesday afternoon.
Joining Aleksandravicius on the coaches all-conference team was junior Laura Murray (Harrisburg, Pa.), who was also tabbed All-SoCon Second Team by the media. Freshman Dakota Dukes (Raleigh, N.C.) became the sixth Wildcat to earn a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman Team as she was named to both the coaches and media's first-year team.
The school's all-time career record holder in points (1,775) and rebounds (1,092) along with five other records, Aleksandravicius became the sixth player in SoCon history since 1985-86 to garner back-to-back player of the year awards. The senior is also the first player to earn defender of the year twice, since it became an award in 2007-08.
Aleksandravicius finished the regular season leading the SoCon in rebounds (career-best 9.9 rpg), blocks (85) and defensive rebounds (7.2 rpg), while ranking third in scoring at 15.8 per game. She was named the player of the week three times this year to give her five for her career and was the league's player of the month for January and February, pushing her career total to four monthly honors.
Aleksandravicius registered a career-high 16 double-doubles to push her four-year total to 46. The Pound Ridge, N.Y. native, also recorded the program's first triple-double, Feb. 16, when she scored 20 points, pulled in 10 rebounds and blocked a single-game school-record 10 shots.
The 6-foot-5 forward was named to the media's first team, making her the first Wildcat to earn first-team honors three times on both the coaches and media team.
Besides her school records, Aleksandravicius also has etched her name in the SoCon record book. She holds the career blocks mark at 322 and her 95 blocks in a single-season are second-most as is her 10-block game, Feb. 16. Aleksandravicius is in the top-10 in six other categories, including currently ranking 10th in points and fifth in rebounds all-time.
Murray, a two-time first-team member on the coaches team, is second on the squad in scoring at 11.9 per game. She reached the double-digit mark 18 times this year, including a pair of 20-point outings with a high of 24 coming at Rugters, Nov. 25.
The former SoCon Freshman of the Year became the 16th Wildcat in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, going over the mark in the first half vs. Chattanooga at home, Jan. 18. Murray currently sits in eighth all-time in points and her 149 career three-pointers are good for fifth most.
A regular in the starting lineup since day one of this year, Dukes has been a solid contributor. She has started 27 of Davidson's 30 games and is second on the team in shooting at 51.3 percent. The freshman is averaging just over five points and four rebounds a game.
Dukes has scored in double digits five times this season, with a season-high 15 points coming against cross-county rival Charlotte.
Aleksandravicius and Murray were also both honored by College Sports Madness, with each getting first-team nods and Aleksandravicius picking up the player of the year award.
Chattanooga's Wes Moore was named the SoCon Coach of the Year by both his peers and the media. The coaches voted Furman's Holli Wilkins freshman of the year, while the media tabbed Lucy Mason of UNCG the top rookie. The Ann Lashley Inspiration Award, which honors a student-athlete or coach who has shown outstanding courage or service, was given to Wofford's Mariah Masalin.
Davidson, winners of 15 of its last 19 games, enters the SoCon Tournament this weekend as the No. 2 seed after going 16-4 in league play with a 19-11 overall record. It will play the winner of the No. 7 Furman / No. 10 UNCG matchup on Saturday, March 9, at 4:30 p.m. in Kimmel Arena on the campus of UNC Asheville.
Coaches All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year – Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Freshman of the Year – Holli Wilkins, Furman
Defensive Player of the Year – Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ann Lashley Inspiration Award Winner – Mariah Masalin, Wofford
Coach of the Year – Wes Moore, Chattanooga
Coaches All-Conference Team
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga
Ali Ford, Elon
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Jazmine Martin, Samford
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga
Coaches All-Freshman Team
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Lucy Mason, UNCG
Tatianna Jackson, Chattanooga
Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Media All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year – Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Freshman of the Year – Lucy Mason, UNCG
Coach of the Year – Wes Moore, Chattanooga
First Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ali Ford, Elon
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga
Second Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Jazmine Martin, Samford
Daniella Motley, Wofford
All-Freshman Team
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Tatianna Jackson, Chattanooga
Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina
Lucy Mason, UNCG
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