March 10, 2008

2007-08 All-Southland Conference Women's Basketball Teams

FRISCO, Texas - The 2007-08 All-Southland Conference women's basketball teams were announced today by the conference office as Texas State senior forward Joyce Ekworomadu took home Player of the Year honors.

UT Arlington's seniors Maryann Abanobi and Tiffeny Riles where both named to the All-SLC Second Team.

Abanobi, who scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season, leads the Mavs in scoring on the season with 12.4 points per game. The Sugarland, Texas native also leads the team with a .818 mark from the charity stripe and averages 31.6 minutes of playing time a game. This is Abanobi's second All-SLC honor, as she was a Third Team selection her sophomore year.

Riles is UTA's leading rebounder with 7.7 boards a game on the season and 8.8 a game in conference play. Her .570 conference field goal percentage finished second in the SLC. With Riles help UTA finished the regular season with the highest rebounding margin in conference action at plus 9.4. This is Riles first all-conference honor.

The First Team All-SLC selection, Ekworomadu, ran away with the league's highest accolade claiming 20 first place votes becoming just the second player from Texas State to receive the honor (Tori Talbert, 2003, 05). A two-time player of the week selection, Ekworomadu led the SLC with 11 20-plus point games and a .904 mark from the charity stripe. Her 20.6 conference scoring average finished second in the SLC and was one of only two players to average over 20 points a game in league contests. The Coppell, Texas native also shot a .464 three-point average and sank 2.81 three pointers per game placing second in league play.

UTSA junior Monica Gibbs earns her first selection to the All-SLC First Team after leading the league in assists per game (6.06), and was the only player to average over six assists per game in conference play. Posting five double-doubles, Gibbs was one of the better threats from the perimeter knocking down an impressive .507 field goal percentage (4th). She is one of only four league players to shoot .500 or better from the field and is the only All-SLC First Team selection to do so.

Northwestern State senior Tena Matthews was named First Team All-Conference leading the Southland with 14 double-doubles and her streak of six consecutive double-doubles is the longest this season. Knocking down a .449 average from the perimeter, Matthews led the SLC in rebounds (11.3 rpg), was third in scoring (18.6 ppg) and tied for third in steals (2.81 ppg).

Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack Nikki Carr received dual honors this season. First Team All-SLC honors and was named Defensive Player of the Year after leading the SLC in steals (3.06). Carr finished in the top ten in several offensive categories; ninth in scoring (14.4), seventh in rebounds (7.5) and third in assists (4.75). She also put in six double-doubles and four 20-plus point games.

The only freshman named to the All-SLC First Team, Tamara Abalde of Lamar University also received Freshman of the Year honors. A native of Vigo, Spain, Abalde led the Cardinals to their first regular-season title claiming the East Division. A two-time player of the week recipient, Abalde recorded five double-doubles, eight 20-plus point games and scored a single-game high 44 points against Wiley. She finished sixth in scoring (15.7), ninth in rebounds (7.3) and knocked down a .434 mark from the field.

Second team All-SLC selection, UTSA Roadrunner Onika Anderson received Newcomer of the Year honors after an impressive first season in Southland action. One of three players to average 10 or more rebounds per game (10.2 - 2nd in SLC) Anderson finished fifth in scoring (15.8) and third in field goal percentage (.547).

Texas State coach Suzanne Fox received Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bobcats to their first regular-season title claiming the West Division and finishing with her best record at Texas State (20-9/14-2). Coach Fox and the Bobcats are the #1 seed heading into the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas.

The All-Southland Conference teams consist of three teams with five selections per team and are voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The leading vote recipient (Joyce Ekworomadu) is automatically selected as conference player of the year and each position is filled according to total of votes received.