Duquesne WBB’s McConnell Receives Multiple A-10 Awards

Duquesne Women’s Basketball received multiple Atlantic 10 All-Conference Awards for Megan McConnell as was revealed Tuesday afternoon.

This season McConnell led the conference with 158 assists and her 242 defensive rebounds also held the same distinction, 29 more than her closest pursuer.

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“Meg was determined, she changed her body this offseason and really got in the weight room and got stronger and you can see it in her game with how she’s been playing,” Duquesne Associate Head Coach Cherie Lea said. “She is our leader out there, our captain on the court, she runs the offense, and she is a force on the boards. She accepts and excels in her role as a defensive irritant. She gets in people’s faces and she’s battling. She’s a warrior out there. I think she should be one of the top players and I may be biased because I see her every day. I love how she competes on the floor every minute she’s out there.”

Additionally, McConnell averaged 11 points per game, had 66 steals, shot 49.2% from the field, won the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week last week and recorded two triple doubles.

McConnell was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.

“It would definitely mean a lot to me, but I’m not really worried about those awards,” McConnell stated earlier in the week about potentially receiving awards. “I just want our team to be successful down in Delaware this week, so that’s what I’m focused on right now.”

What may be puzzling for many Duquesne fans is McConnell’s lack of inclusion on the all-conference defensive team given that her assignment is to defend an opponent’s best guard, steals the ball at a high rate and at 5-foot-7 is 12 rebounds away from setting a new single-season mark.

“Honestly I just kind of go where I need to be and I’m just at the right place at the right time,” said McConnell regarding her rebounding prowess. “Sometimes I do go through people to get it, but I want to put my teammates at the best position, so if I can have the ball in my hands, they can get a quick shot transition.”

While McConnell received recognition from the A-10 coaching staff, other Duquesne players also had an opportunity based upon their play but were not included on any team.

This includes Tess Myers who earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Third Team. Myers led the Dukes in scoring at 11.9 points per game and sank 86 three-pointers, one behind Massachusetts guard Sydney Taylor for most in the conference. Additionally, Myers shot 84% from the free-throw line.

“Tess is one of the best shooters in the country,” Lea stated. “Keeping her focused and locked in. I always say ‘shooters shoot’ no matter what. I think she’s embraced that role. We need her to play at a high level and she is one of the best here.”

Amaya Hamilton (10.7 ppg/6.5 rebs/86 assists) is another player who took a big jump this season growing to both understand and thrive in her role.

Hamilton’s defense also has taken a large step forward this season and she frequently was tasked with each team’s most lethal post player.

“Amaya has embraced that all-around role,” said Lea. “She can go inside or out, she is a difference maker on our team. She can also defend, a lot of people lose sight that she is an active defender on the other end and we give her some of the biggest assignments and she excels at that.”

Duquesne had five double-digit scorers on its roster this season with post players Ayanna Townsend (10.6 ppg/46.5% FG) and Precious Johnson (10.1 ppg/7 rebs/49% FG/40 blks) rounding out that list and Naelle Bernard (9.8 ppg/55 3’s) right behind them.

In the past when he feels his team has been slighted, Duquesne coach Dan Burt has never been shy to let his feelings be known and that likely will happen once again following Wednesday’s Atlantic 10 Championship First Round contest against Loyola Chicago.

Gibsonia native and UMass forward Sam Breen was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. All of the votes, as placed by the coaches Monday evening are below.

Atlantic 10 All-Conference Teams

Player of the Year- Sam Breen Massachusetts

Rookie of the Year- Laura Ziegler Saint Joseph’s

Most Improved Player- Maye Toure Rhode Island

Co-Defensive Players of the Year- Asiah Dingle Fordham & Brooke Flowers Saint Louis

Sixth Woman of the Year- Nya Robertson George Washington

Coach of the Year- Tammi Reiss Rhode Island

All-Conference First Team

Anna DeWolfe Fordham

Asiah Dingle Fordham

Sam Breen Massachusetts

Sydney Taylor Massachusetts

Maye Toure Rhode Island

Talya Brugler Saint Joseph’s

All-Conference Second Team

Elle Sutphin Davidson

Megan McConnell Duquesne

Ber’Nyah Mayo Massachusetts

Addie Budnik Richmond

Brooke Flowers Saint Louis

Kyla McMakin Saint Louis

All-Conference Third Team

Kayla Spruill La Salle

Madison Hattix-Covington Rhode Island

Maggie Doogan Richmond

Mackenzie Smith Saint Joseph’s

Laura Ziegler Saint Joseph’s

Sarah Te-Biasu VCU

All-Defensive Team

Asiah Dingle Fordham

Mayowa Taiwo George Washington

Destiney Philoxy Massachusetts

Brooke Flowers Saint Louis

Julia Martinez Saint Louis

All-Rookie Team

Nalani Kaysia George Mason

Nya Robertson George Washington

Mia Jacobs La Salle

Maggie Doogan Richmond

Laura Ziegler Saint Joseph’s

PSN’s Zac Weiss voted in a separate unofficial ballot for a10talk.com and this was what he submitted. All of the teams below were how he ranked the players, not by program’s alphabetical order.

Player of the Year- Sam Breen Massachusetts

Rookie of the Year- Nya Robertson George Washington

Most Improved Player- Maye Toure Rhode Island

Defensive Player of the Year- Megan McConnell Duquesne

Sixth Woman of the Year- Nya Robertson George Washington

Coach of the Year- Rebecca Tillett Saint Louis

All-Conference First Team

Sam Breen Massachusetts

Megan McConnell Duquesne

Sydney Taylor Massachusetts

Kyla McMakin Saint Louis

Maye Toure Rhode Island

Brooke Flowers Saint Louis

All-Conference Second Team

Talya Brugler Saint Joseph’s

Elle Sutphin Davidson

Asiah Dingle Fordham

Nya Robertson George Washington

Anna DeWolfe Fordham

Ber’Nyah Mayo Massachusetts

All-Conference Third Team

Addie Budnik Richmond

Destiney Philoxy Massachusetts

Julia Martinez Saint Louis

Sarah Te-Biasu VCU

Mackenzie Smith Saint Joseph’s

Rosie Deegan Davidson

All-Defensive Team

Megan McConnell Duquesne

Brooke Flowers Saint Louis

Julia Martinez Saint Louis

Asiah Dingle Fordham

Ber’Nyah Mayo Massachusetts

All-Rookie Team

Nya Robertson George Washington

Laura Ziegler Saint Joseph’s

Maggie Doogan Richmond

Nalani Kaysia George Mason

Nayo Lear Dayton