Iowa Wesleyan’s West Named 2022-23 CAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year
Iowa Wesleyan University junior Isabell West headlines the 2022-23 Continental Athletic Conference women's basketball postseason honors with two awards: Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
The awards and all-conference teams were announced prior to the semifinals round of this year's championship tournament at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas.
Other postseason awards included Florida National University sophomore Natalie Larranaga being named the Defensive Player of the Year and Iowa Wesleyan University's Steve Williamson as Coach of the Year.
West led the Tigers at 18.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during the regular season. She scored 20 or more points in 10 games this winter, with a season-high 35-point effort in a 68-65 win against the College of the Ozarks (Missouri) on December 3.
Larranaga was a multiple CAC Player of the Week award recipient during the 2022-23 campaign. She recorded 63 total steals while grabbing 6.7 rebounds and averaging 33 minutes per game for the Conquistadors. Larranaga also led FNU offensively by scoring 18.7 points per contest.
Williamson guided the Tigers to a 20-6 season and top seeding in the CAC tournament, which they are the defending champions. This is the second straight year he has been named the conference's Coach of the Year.
2022-23 Continental Athletic Conference
Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Isabell West, Iowa Wesleyan University
Defensive Player of the Year: Natalie Larranaga, Florida National University
Newcomer Player of the Year: Isabell West, Iowa Wesleyan University
Coach of the Year: Steve Williamson, Iowa Wesleyan University
First Team
Natalie Larranaga, Florida National University
Marilyn Goodman, Haskell Indian Nations University
Miracle Spotted Bear, Haskell Indian Nations University
Kyla Moore, Iowa Wesleyan University
Isabell West, Iowa Wesleyan University
Sarah Shamdeen, Washington Adventist University
Second Team
Hunter Gibson, Crowley's Ridge College
Octavia Lowery, Crowley's Ridge College
Janelise Marty Marrero, Florida National University
Jaelyn Two Hearts, Haskell Indian Nations University
Breanna Wendland, Iowa Wesleyan University
Sole Carroll, Washington Adventist University
Honorable Mention
Jessica Nerestant, Arkansas Baptist College
Madison Kelley, Fisher College
Mahpiya Irving, Haskell Indian Nations University
Ty'Shemia Bunkley, Voorhees University
Nedisha Ford, Voorhees University
Champions of Character Team
Teonna Barkley, Arkansas Baptist College
Za'Riah Griffin, Bacone College
Lindsey Browning, Crowley's Ridge College
Tyra Kirlew, Florida National University
Justine Butterfield, Haskell Indian Nations University
Brielle Baker, Iowa Wesleyan University
Miranda Salazar, Northern New Mexico College
Sarah Shamdeen, Washington Adventist University