MIAMI, Fla. (February 25, 2021) – The Sun Conference announced on Thursday its award winners for the 2020-21 women’s basketball season.
Southeastern’s
Gabrielle Ozoude was named the Sun Conference Player of the Year. In her first year with the Fire, Ozoude has averaged 16.0 points per game (No. 2 in the conference) on a league-leading 51.6 percent shooting from the floor (No. 42 in the nation). She scored in double-figures 20 times, including an SEU-career-high 28 at Ave Maria (2/18). A three-time Sun Conference Player of the Week this year, Ozoude led the league with seven double-doubles averaging 8.4 rebounds per game. In 23 appearances, the native of Bellbrook, Ohio notched a team-best 34 blocks (No. 3 in the conference and No. 28 in the nation), averaging 1.5 blocks per game (No. 1 in the conference and No. 45 in the nation).
Florida Memorial’s
Chantel Barnett was named the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. The first-year Lion led all conference freshmen in points per game (12.5), shooting 39.5 percent from the field. Ranking ninth in the conference in points per game, Barnett scored in double-figures 13 times, including a career-high 24 points versus Ave Maria (2/4). She led FMU is assists (53), averaging 2.5 dimes per game (No. 13 in the conference). A TSC Player of the Week honoree in 2020-21, Barnett registered two double-doubles, and had two different streaks of scoring 12-or-more points.
Southeastern’s
Tim Hays was named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year. In his fifth season at the helm, Hays guided the Fire to their sixth-straight regular season crown with a perfect 20-0 mark in league action. Ranked No. 10 in the final NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, SEU extended its regular season unbeaten streak in conference play to five-straight seasons under Hays (90-0). With a mark of 23-2 (including an opening-round victory over Warner in this year’s championship), Hays has amassed a record of 139-9 with the Fire.
Southeastern’s
Madi Hecox was named the Sun Conference Champion of Character. After having discovered on an EKG last season that she may have a potentially fatal heart condition, Hecox endured heart surgery mid-season last year. She has bounced back this year playing unbelievably hard and without fear, valuing each day. She now works as a volunteer nights and weekends for an organization called "Who We Play For" that is working to bring EKG machines and education to universities and high schools across the country in hopes of having athletic departments make EKG testing mandatory and potentially save lives like hers. She has spoken on numerous television, radio, and podcast shows across the country educating others on heart health and awareness and advocacy for athletes. She will be spending this summer as a volunteer working for "Who We Play For" sharing her message and saving lives. In addition, Hecox has been named team captain, taken over coaching a local youth girls basketball team, and also plays on SEU's softball team, all while maintaining a 3.5 GPA.
2020-21 Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Award Winners
Player of the Year
Gabrielle Ozoude (GS), F, Southeastern
Freshman of the Year
Chantel Barnett, F, Florida Memorial
Coach of the Year
Tim Hays, Southeastern
Champion of Character
Madi Hecox, G, Southeastern
On Wednesday, the 2020-21 All-Sun Conference Teams were announced. Below are this year’s honorees.
2020-21 Women’s Basketball All-Sun Conference Teams
| First Team |
|
|
|
| Paris Copeland |
Webber International |
SR |
Lakeland, Florida |
| Gianni Domond |
St. Thomas |
JR |
North Miami, Florida |
| Anari Dozier |
St. Thomas |
JR |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Leandra Franklin |
Webber International |
R-SR |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Haley Gantt |
Warner |
JR |
Boynton Beach, Florida |
| Haley Howarth |
Southeastern |
SO |
Jupiter, Florida |
| Kaliyah Little |
Coastal Georgia |
SO |
Warner Robins, Georgia |
| Gabrielle Ozoude |
Southeastern |
GS |
Bellbrook, Ohio |
| Emily Patton |
Keiser |
SR |
Harrod, Ohio |
| Keaynna Tolbert |
Florida Memorial |
JR |
Orlando, Florida |
|
|
|
|
| Second Team |
|
|
|
| Taylor Allen |
Ave Maria |
SR |
St. John's, Florida |
| Chantel Barnett |
Florida Memorial |
FR |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| Alisha Clayton |
Thomas |
SR |
Gainesville, Florida |
| Solrun Gisladottir |
Coastal Georgia |
SR |
Hafnarfjordur, Iceland |
| Carmen Handy |
Southeastern |
SR |
Sarnia, Ontario |
| Madi Hecox |
Southeastern |
SR |
Rockford, Illinois |
| D'Asia James |
Warner |
SR |
Tampa, Florida |
| Bekki Kalaydjiev |
Southeastern |
JR |
Vienna, Austria |
| Antigonie Sanabria |
Keiser |
SR |
Milan, Ohio |
| Amaya Small |
Webber International |
JR |
Lakeland, Florida |
ABOUT THE SUN CONFERENCE
Now entering its 31st year, The Sun Conference, a 501c3 organization, continues to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic conferences in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Under the guidance of Commissioner Dustin Wilke, the league sponsors championships in 18 NAIA sports: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field and Women’s Volleyball. Corporate sponsorship of the Conference has increased ten-fold; but most importantly, every Sun Conference member institution earned the NAIA’s prestigious 5-Star Champions of Character Award in each of the last five years. Learn more @ thesunconference.com
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