Shakyla Hill best on both sides of the ball in the SWAC

Courtesy: SWAC.org

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Grambling State University senior guard Shakyla Hill was named the 2018-19 Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player and Defensive Player of the Year. The announcement comes as part of the league’s reveal of its 2018-19 all-conference teams and honorees.

Additionally, Alabama State’s Ayana Emmanuel was named SWAC Freshman of the Year, Jackson State guard Kaisah Lucky earned Newcomer of the Year accolades, and Southern University coach Carlos Funchess won Coach of the Year honors. The teams and individual awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Hill led the league in points (18.7), assists (6.0) and steals per game (4.5), also ranking second in rebounds per game at 7.6. The Little Rock, Ark. native also set a new SWAC career steals record this season. She scored in double figures in 29 of 30 games and was named SWAC Player of the Week six times. The senior also became the first player in NCAA history – man or woman – to record two quadruple-doubles in a college career, achieving the feat versus UAPB on Feb. 2.

Emmanuel led Alabama State in scoring at 13.4 points per game, a figure that ranks sixth in the conference. The Pompano Beach, Fla. native flashed as one of the league’s top sharpshooters, connecting on 39 percent of her tries from beyond the arc and ranking second in the league in free-throw percentage (.798).

Lucky guided Jackson State toward becoming the league’s best offense, as the Lady Tigers led the SWAC in points per game (70.1), field-goal percentage (.440) and three-point percentage (.330). The Brooklyn, N.Y. native averaged 8.6 points, 5.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for Jackson State.

Under Funchess’ direction, the Jaguars earned the regular-season championship, posting a 17-12 record (14-4 SWAC). Southern boasted the second-ranking scoring defense in the league and posted two separate win streaks of at least five games this season.

The entire list of honorees and all-conference selections are listed below.

All-SWAC Women’s Basketball 1st Team:
G – Shakyla Hill, Grambling State
G – Shala Dobbins, Prairie View A&M
F – Niya Mitchell, Texas Southern
F – Marneisha Hamer, Jackson State
C – Shawntayla Harris, UAPB

All-SWAC Women’s Basketball 2nd Team:
G – Christina Ellis, Jackson State
G – LaKendra Bassett, Mississippi Valley State
F – Artavia Ford, Prairie View A&M
F – Ayana Emmanuel, Alabama State
C – Isis Lane, Texas Southern

Player of the Year/Defensive Player of the Year:
Shakyla Hill, Grambling State

Coach of the Year:
Carlos Funchess, Southern

Freshman of the Year:
Ayana Emmanuel, Alabama State

Newcomer of the Year:
Kaisah Lucky, Jackson State