Women’s Basketball: Veal, Wilridge Named to All-Sun Belt Conference Team
Veal garnered first team honors, Wilridge named to second team
Sun Belt Conference Release
NEW ORLEANS – For the third time since 2005, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team sent a pair of student-athletes to the All-Sun Belt Conference team, as seniors Keke Veal and Kia Wilridge were honored by the conference office, as announced on Tuesday.
It is the second all-conference honor for both players in their four-year careers. Veal, a native of Opelousas, La., was a first-team All-SBC selection while Wilridge, a Crowley, La., native, was named to the second team. Both were named to the All-Sun Belt Conference third team following the 2014-15 season.
"Kia and Keke’s presence on both ends of the floor have been such a vital part of our success this season," Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Garry Brodhead said. "They are two kids who I have seen grow and mature as both adults and student-athletes over the years. We are excited to see how far their leadership and presence will take us in the postseason."
Veal, a 5-6 guard and a graduate of St. Thomas More High School, headlined the Cajuns’ offense during the regular season, averaging a career-high 17.0 points while adding 3.6 rebounds per game. She finished first on the team in steals with 65 and was second in assists with 71. Veal shot 40.5% (173-of-427) from the floor and 31.1% from three-point range. She established a career-high of 34 points at Troy on Feb. 26.
She ranks third in program history in points scored (1,548), third in steals (252), sixth in assists (265), and 10th in three-point field goals made (100).
Wilridge, a 5-5 guard and a graduate of St. Thomas More High School, served as a focal point on a defense that ranks 37th in the nation in points allowed (56.5 per game). She finished the regular season third in scoring with 11.5 points per game and first in rebounds (5.2 per game) and assists (87), also a career-high. She blocked five shots, tied for the second highest total among Cajuns.
Wilridge climbed the all-time ranks in UL history in several categories this season. She currently sits sixth in program history in scoring (1,204 points), third in steals (233) and fifth in assists (310).
The Cajuns own the No. 3 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and will play No. 6 seed UT Arlington in the first round this Wednesday, March 9. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at New Orleans’ Lakefront Arena.
2016 Sun Belt All-Conference Teams
First Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Khadija Brown-Haywood (Arkansas State, Senior, Forward, Early Childhood Education)
Aundrea Gamble (Arkansas State, Senior, Guard, Master of Arts in Teaching)
Shanity James (Little Rock, Senior, Forward, Sociology)
Keke Veal (Louisiana, Senior, Guard, Sport Management)
Ashley Beverly Kelley (Troy, Senior, Guard, Exercise Science)
Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Alexius Dawn (Little Rock, Senior, Guard, Sociology)
Angel McGowan (Georgia Southern, Junior, Guard, Exercise Science)
Kia Wilridge (Louisiana, Senior, Guard, Exercise Science)
Alayshia Hunter (UL Monroe, Senior, Forward, Kinesiology)
Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Sophomore, Center, Pre-Law)
Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Brittney Gill (Arkansas State, Senior, Guard, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, Sophomore, Center, Allied Health)
Marquita Daniels (South Alabama, Sophomore, Guard, Criminal Justice)
Cierra Johnson (UT Arlington, Sophomore, Guard, Child Psychology/Pre-Med)
Caitlyn Ramirez (Troy, Junior, Forward, Psychology)
2016 Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete of the Year
Aundrea Gamble, Arkansas State
2016 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Chyna Ellis, South Alabama
2016 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
Madison Newby, Georgia State
2016 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year
Brian Boyer, Arkansas State
