Lyon, Donovan and Turner Earn A-10 Postseason Honors
3/7/2019 11:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Associate SID
2018-19 A-10 Postseason Award Winners
DavidsonPhotos.com
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — After leading Davidson to its best finish during its time in the Atlantic 10, the trio of senior Justine Lyon, and sophomores Sarah Donovan and Katie Turner were each honored by the league's coaches with the release of the 2019 women's basketball postseason awards Thursday.
Donovan was named the league's Most Improved Player of the Year and earned a spot on the A-10 All-Second Team, while Lyon was named the A-10 Sixth Woman of the Year as well as All-Third Team. Turner joined Lyon on the league's All-Third Team.
Davidson had a program-best 10-6 record in its fifth year in the A-10 and finished tied for fourth, while owning a 17-13 record going into Friday's quarterfinal game vs. Dayton. The 17 wins are the most since the 2012-13 season when the Wildcats went 22-13 while competing in the Southern Conference.
"I'm thrilled that the conference coaches have recognized Sarah, Justine, and Katie's outstanding play this season," said head coach Gayle Coats Fulks. "Each of them has been completely committed to the team and always focused on the ultimate statistic - winning games. Their team-first mindset has propelled us to achieve a record-breaking season in the A-10. I could not be prouder of how these three have represented our program with excellent play, but more importantly by how great of teammates they have been."
Versatile forward Donovan stepped into the starting lineup this year and has been a double-double machine. The sophomore from London, Ontario, Canada has a personal-best 11 double-doubles to give her 14 in two seasons. It is the most in a season since Mackenzie Latt '18 recorded 11 double-doubles in 2014-15. Donovan has set career highs in every offensive and defensive category this year, including points (13.0 per game) and rebounding (9.0), which is good for tops in the A-10. Donovan has paced the team in rebounding 18 times with 13 games of double-digit boards. Donovan's 270 rebounds currently rank fifth-most in a single season. The forward has scored in double figures a team-best 26 times and reached the 20-point mark four times, with a career-high 22 points coming against Appalachian State, Nov. 17.
"Sarah has had an amazing year for us," said Coats Fulks. "She has improved in every facet of her game and become one of the most dominant forwards in the A-10. Her ability to score, rebound, and make plays for others has allowed her to make a tremendous impact for us in every game we have played this season."
A native of Durham, N.C., Lyon earned her second major A-10 award after being named the league's most improved player of the year in 2016-17. She has had a stellar four-year career, currently ranking fifth all-time in scoring with over 1,400 points, while also ranking fifth in free throws made. As a preseason A-10 All-Second Team pick this year, Lyon has been one of the 'Cats' top scorers at 13.0 points per game to tie Donovan for top-team honors. The senior has scored in double figures 19 times this season, pushing her career total to 70. Lyon had her third career 30-point outing (31) in a win at Clemson, Dec. 16, and has tallied a pair of double-doubles this season.
"Justine's versatility has been a major weapon for us in the sixth woman role this season," said Coats Fulks. "She is an explosive and experienced scorer that can play a variety of positions, which has given us a lot of flexibility. She completely embraced this role for us and has been a huge part of our success this season."
Guard Katie Turner has excelled at running the point for the 'Cats this season, helping Davidson top the A-10 in scoring and assists by averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 assists per game. A native of Reno, Nev., Turner's 128 assists are seventh in the Wildcats' single-season record book. Perhaps most impressively, the sophomore point guard lead the A-10 in assist to turnover ratio. Turner is second on the team in double-figure scoring at 23 games, giving her 41 for her career. She has had three 20-point outings, including a season-high 22 points in a home win vs. St. Bonaventure, Feb. 9.
"Katie has done a great job of setting the tone for us this season," said Coats Fulks. "Her ability to score as well as create for others has made her one of the most complete point guards in our conference. She is a fierce competitor that brings a consistent intensity on a day-to-day basis. Her competitive presence has helped us take a major step forward this season."
Davidson won the program's first A-10 Women's Basketball Championship game Tuesday night with a home victory (74-49) against St. Bonaventure, earning a trip to Pittsburgh and a spot in the quarterfinals.
For a full list of award winners, click on the pdf above or visit the A-10 Women's Basketball page here.
DavidsonPhotos.com
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — After leading Davidson to its best finish during its time in the Atlantic 10, the trio of senior Justine Lyon, and sophomores Sarah Donovan and Katie Turner were each honored by the league's coaches with the release of the 2019 women's basketball postseason awards Thursday.
Donovan was named the league's Most Improved Player of the Year and earned a spot on the A-10 All-Second Team, while Lyon was named the A-10 Sixth Woman of the Year as well as All-Third Team. Turner joined Lyon on the league's All-Third Team.
Davidson had a program-best 10-6 record in its fifth year in the A-10 and finished tied for fourth, while owning a 17-13 record going into Friday's quarterfinal game vs. Dayton. The 17 wins are the most since the 2012-13 season when the Wildcats went 22-13 while competing in the Southern Conference.
"I'm thrilled that the conference coaches have recognized Sarah, Justine, and Katie's outstanding play this season," said head coach Gayle Coats Fulks. "Each of them has been completely committed to the team and always focused on the ultimate statistic - winning games. Their team-first mindset has propelled us to achieve a record-breaking season in the A-10. I could not be prouder of how these three have represented our program with excellent play, but more importantly by how great of teammates they have been."
Versatile forward Donovan stepped into the starting lineup this year and has been a double-double machine. The sophomore from London, Ontario, Canada has a personal-best 11 double-doubles to give her 14 in two seasons. It is the most in a season since Mackenzie Latt '18 recorded 11 double-doubles in 2014-15. Donovan has set career highs in every offensive and defensive category this year, including points (13.0 per game) and rebounding (9.0), which is good for tops in the A-10. Donovan has paced the team in rebounding 18 times with 13 games of double-digit boards. Donovan's 270 rebounds currently rank fifth-most in a single season. The forward has scored in double figures a team-best 26 times and reached the 20-point mark four times, with a career-high 22 points coming against Appalachian State, Nov. 17.
"Sarah has had an amazing year for us," said Coats Fulks. "She has improved in every facet of her game and become one of the most dominant forwards in the A-10. Her ability to score, rebound, and make plays for others has allowed her to make a tremendous impact for us in every game we have played this season."
A native of Durham, N.C., Lyon earned her second major A-10 award after being named the league's most improved player of the year in 2016-17. She has had a stellar four-year career, currently ranking fifth all-time in scoring with over 1,400 points, while also ranking fifth in free throws made. As a preseason A-10 All-Second Team pick this year, Lyon has been one of the 'Cats' top scorers at 13.0 points per game to tie Donovan for top-team honors. The senior has scored in double figures 19 times this season, pushing her career total to 70. Lyon had her third career 30-point outing (31) in a win at Clemson, Dec. 16, and has tallied a pair of double-doubles this season.
"Justine's versatility has been a major weapon for us in the sixth woman role this season," said Coats Fulks. "She is an explosive and experienced scorer that can play a variety of positions, which has given us a lot of flexibility. She completely embraced this role for us and has been a huge part of our success this season."
Guard Katie Turner has excelled at running the point for the 'Cats this season, helping Davidson top the A-10 in scoring and assists by averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 assists per game. A native of Reno, Nev., Turner's 128 assists are seventh in the Wildcats' single-season record book. Perhaps most impressively, the sophomore point guard lead the A-10 in assist to turnover ratio. Turner is second on the team in double-figure scoring at 23 games, giving her 41 for her career. She has had three 20-point outings, including a season-high 22 points in a home win vs. St. Bonaventure, Feb. 9.
"Katie has done a great job of setting the tone for us this season," said Coats Fulks. "Her ability to score as well as create for others has made her one of the most complete point guards in our conference. She is a fierce competitor that brings a consistent intensity on a day-to-day basis. Her competitive presence has helped us take a major step forward this season."
Davidson won the program's first A-10 Women's Basketball Championship game Tuesday night with a home victory (74-49) against St. Bonaventure, earning a trip to Pittsburgh and a spot in the quarterfinals.
For a full list of award winners, click on the pdf above or visit the A-10 Women's Basketball page here.
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