Complete Sun Belt Release

ARLINGTON, Texas -- An historic regular season from the Lady Mavericks has lifted Cierra Johnson and Rebekah VanDijk into the Sun Belt Conference awards list.

Johnson, a junior from Bedford, Texas, was named the league's 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year as well as a selection to the All-SBC second team. VanDijk, a junior from Nazareth, Texas, was named to the All-SBC first team, announced by the league office on Monday.

"I am very excited for Rebekah and Cierra to be recognized for their efforts," UTA coach Krista Gerlich said. "Rebekah has been so consistent this year with being a dominant force in the paint, even with double and triple teams. I'm proud that she is recognized as one of the best in the conference.

"Cierra has improved her offensive game this season and has been asked to do it all for us. She has shown she can score with the best in the conference as well as defend."

A finalist for the league's defensive award all three seasons for UTA, Johnson's numbers have not only been tops in the league, but are amongst the best in the nation. Johnson's 3.1 steals per game are best in the Sun Belt and 18th in the nation. Playing several games less than many of the national leaders, her 80 steals this season are ranked 25th overall.

"Her selection as the Defensive Player of the Year is very deserving," Gerlich said. "She not only leads the league in steals and is the heart of our defense, she has shown she can be a lock down defender in the half court as well, on the perimeter or in the paint."

Johnson's selection is UTA's third defensive player of the year award all-time, joining Shalyn Martin, who earned the honor in back-to-back seasons from 2010-11 in the Southland Conference

With her leadership, UTA is ninth in the nation in turnovers forced per game at 21.6. Her 80 steals are fifth in single-season history, and just one away from tying her mark from her freshman season.

VanDijk has moved up UTA's all-time records list as well as several Sun Belt milestones. VanDijk averaged 15.8 points per game and 9.1 rebounds on the way to 12 double-doubles. She scored in double figures in 24 of 28 games this season. The junior was the lone player in the league to be top-3 in both points and rebounds.

Behind a 24-point and 16-point final two games, VanDijk moved into 10th in UTA's all-time scoring list and become the 18th player to record more than 1,000 points earlier this season. With 10 rebounds vs. Louisiana, she also moved into fourth in UTA's all-time rebounding charts.

"I know both girls will give credit to their teammates for this recognition as we have so many options on our team and our players are selfless in who gets the credit," Gerlich said. "But if I know Rebekah and Cierra, they would trade this recognition for a championship in a heartbeat."

2016-17 Sun Belt Awards

Player of the Year
Sharde' Collins (Little Rock, G, Senior, Sociology)

Defensive Player of the Year
Cierra Johnson (UTA, G, Junior, Child Psychology)

Freshman of the Year
Jada Lewis (Georgia State, G, Freshman)

Newcomer of the Year
Tiffany Holston (Georgia State, F, Graduate)

Coach of the Year
Joe Foley, Little Rock

First Team All-Conference

• Sharde' Collins (Little Rock, G, Senior, Sociology)
• Kaitlyn Pratt (Little Rock, F, Senior, Social Work)
• Jaylyn Gordon (Louisiana, G, Senior, General Studies)
• Rebekah VanDijk (UTA, C, Junior, Pre-Law)
• Caitlyn Ramirez (Troy, F, Senior, Psychology)

Second Team All-Conference

• Ced Gibson (Coastal Carolina, G, Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies)
• Patrice Butler (Georgia Southern, F/C, Senior, Sports Management)
• Angel McGowan (Georgia Southern, G, Senior, Mathematics)
• Simone Fields (Louisiana, F/C, Junior, Informatics)
• Cierra Johnson (UTA, G, Junior, Child Psychology)

Third Team All-Conference

• Joi Jones (Appalachian State, G, Senior, Biology)
• Madi Story (Appalachian State, F, Junior, Exercise Science)
• Jada Lewis (Georgia State, G, Freshman)
• Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, C, Junior, Allied Health)
• Taeler Deer (Texas State, G, Junior, Exercise/Sport Science)