CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In addition to defending her reign as SLC Defensive Player of the Year, senior
Alecia Westbrook of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team headlined the postseason awards as Player of the Year and joined
Makinna Serrata on the All-Conference First-Team, announced by the league office on Friday.
It is the first time in program history that an Islander was named Player of the Year, as well as the first time a player repeated a superlative. Westbrook was named to the All-Defensive team for the second year in a row, also a first for the Islanders.
With Westbrook and Serrata being named to the First Team for the second year in a row, it also marks the first time the Islanders had a player be named to the First-Team multiple times, let alone two.
"We are honored to have the Southland's Player of the Year on our team," said head coach
Royce Chadwick. "Alecia has been a rock for our program for years. She puts up the numbers on the court, leads the team with her voice and by example, and is a wonderful leader off the court. She is the epitome of what a student athlete should be. We are very proud of this first time in school history accomplishment."
Westbrook was the only player to average a double-double in the Southland, averaging 12.6 ppg and 10.0 rpg on the year. She led the league in rebounding for the entire conference slate and finished atop the rankings in defensive rebounds per game (7.5), total rebounds (291), and double-doubles (14). Additionally, she was top-five in steals at 57 and top-10 in blocks with 25.
She ended the year ranked 17
th nationally in defensive rebounds per game and top-25 in double-doubles, rebounds, and rebounds per game.
Serrata led the Islanders in scoring for the second year in a row with 12.8 ppg, along with posting the highest field goal percentage at .489 to finish second in the Southland. In conference play, she averaged 14.0 ppg and was .511 from the floor. She scored in double figures over 20 times this year in addition to posting four 20+ scoring performances, all in conference play. Additionally, she recorded 116 rebounds, 53 assists, 28 steals and 18 blocks on the year.
"Makinna has been a mainstay in our program for years. She can defend on the ball, help side and is prolific at taking charges. On the offensive end, she has one of the best jump shots on the team. She brings a search for your shot mentality to our offense. I am very excited to see the conference recognize her contribution to our team.
"Every season is a roller coaster. This group began in July with specific goals in mind and they have carried themselves with dignity, pride and resolve all year. We are very proud of the young ladies they have become and the future ahead for them all, not only on the court but off. Go Islanders!" said Chadwick.
The Islanders became the regular season champions, hoisting a trophy for the second time in four seasons, to earn a double-bye to the semifinals of the SLC Tournament. They will play Wednesday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana against Lamar, McNeese, or New Orleans.
Click here to view the full SLC postseason award winners.
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