Women’s Basketball: Brodhead, Veal, Wilridge garner All-Louisiana honors

The Advertiser, April 15, 2016

 

UL’s Garry Brodhead was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, while Cajuns guard Keke Veal was named to the All-Louisiana first team. Kia Wilridge picked up third team honors.

Louisiana Tech senior forward Brandi Wingate garnered Player of the Year honors by a vote of the state’s media representatives and university media relations directors.

Grambling State’s Shakyla Hill earned the Freshman of the Year and LSU’s Alexis Hyder was tabbed the Newcomer of the Year.

Wingate and Veal (17.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) were joined on the LSWA first team by Tulane guard Kolby Morgan (17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Northwestern State guard Janelle Perez (15.8 ppg, 4.0 apg) and McNeese State guard Jalyn Johnson (15.3 ppg, 5.2 apg).

The second team comprises Xavier guard Whitney Gathright (14.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.4 apg), Hyder, LSU-Alexandria guard Reagan Maricle (17.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg), LSU-Shreveport forward Kourtney Pennywell (17.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and ULM forward Alayshia Hunter (16.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg).

The third team consists of Hill, New Orleans guard Randi Brown (17.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), McNeese State guard Allison Baggett (13.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg), LSU-Alexandria guard Taylor Maricle (18.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Wilridge (11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg).

In the closest voting of the ballot, Brodhead edged Tulane’s Lisa Stockton for coach of the year honors. The fourth year Ragin’ Cajuns 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, he coached the Cajuns to victories over SEC foes Ole Miss and Arkansas. He guided the Cajuns to the Women’s Basketball Invitational championship.

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 4-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 3-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.

Hyder also 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 while ranking in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in both categories. She posted 10 double doubles during the season, including seven against SEC competition, while leading LSU in scoring 13 times and in rebounding 18 times. She scored 23 points against Top 25 foes Kentucky and Missouri.

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 (17.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 spg) (337 points)

Senior, Forward (Columbia, Maryland)

1st team All-CUSA, 4-time C-USA POW, 2-time LSWA POW, Junkanoo Jam All-Tournament Team

Keke Veal, UL (17.0 ppg, 3.6 rbg, 76 assists, 71 steals) (309 points)

Senior, Guard (Opelousas, La.)

1st Team All-SBC, 3x LSWA Player of the Week

Kolby Morgan, Tulane (17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 spg, 2.3 apg) (286 points)

Sophomore, Guard (New Orleans, La.)

2nd Team All-Conference in The American, 6-time American Honor Roll Recipient, 2015 All-Paradise Jam Team

Janelle Perez, Northwestern St. (15.8 ppg; 4.0 apg; 3.7 apg; 1.1 spg) (261 points)

Senior, Guard (El Paso, Texas)

1st team All-Southland Conference; 3-time LSWA Player of the Week; Southland Conference Player of the Week; Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year

Jalyn Johnson, McNeese State (15.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg., 5.2 APG, 1.5 SPG) (237 points)

Senior, Guard (Jennings, La.)

2nd team All-Southland Conference, SLC All-Tournament Team

Second Team All-State

Whitney Gathright, Xavier (211 points)

Senior, Guard (New Orleans, La.)

Alexis Hyder, LSU (205 points)

Junior, Forward (Austin, Texas)

Reagan Maricle, LSU-Alexandria (164 points)

Senior, Guard (Fairview, La.)

Kourtney Pennywell, LSU-Shreveport (163 points)

Senior, Forward (Shreveport, La.)

Alayshia Hunter, ULM (141 points)

Senior, Forward (Killeen, Texas)

Third Team All-State

Shakyla Hill, Grambling State (122 points)

Freshman, Guard (Little Rock, Ark.)

Randi Brown, New Orleans (103 points)

Sophomore, Guard (Houma, La.)

Allison Baggett, McNeese State (84 points)

Senior, Guard (Iota, La.)

Taylor Maricle, LSU-Alexandria (70 points)

Senior, Guard (Fairview, La.)

Kia Wilridge, UL (68 points)

Senior Guard (Crowley, La.)

Honorable Mention: Liann McCarthy, Nicholls; Briana Oglesby, Loyola-New Orleans; Pearl Paulo, LSU-Alexandria; Nanna Pool, Southeastern Louisiana; Brooke Pumroy; Quiana Tucker, LSU-Shreveport; LA Tech; Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane

Player of the Year: Brandi Wingate, LA Tech

(Wingate 10, Keke Veal 6, Kolby Morgan 5, Janelle Perez 3, Whitney Gathright 2, Alexis Hyder 1)

Freshman of the Year: Shakyla Hill, Grambling State

(Hill 20, Cassidy Barrios 5, Megan Worry, 2)

Newcomer of the Year: Alexis Hyder, LSU

(Hyder 17, Brooke Pumroy 8, Quianna Tucker 2)

Coach of the Year: Garry Broadhead, UL-Lafayette

(Broadhead 11, Lisa Stockton 9, Kellie Kennedy 4, Nadine Domond 2, Bo Browder 1)