PHILADELPHIA - The first of the postseason honors have started rolling in, as
Brittany Wilson and
Jada Payne earned spots on the Atlantic 10 All-Conference teams. Wilson is a Third Team All-Conference pick and Payne was tabbed to the All-Rookie Team.
The duo have helped power La Salle to its best Atlantic 10 season since the 2006-07 squad also went 7-7 in league play, and lifted the team to its second straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berth as they earned the No. 8 seed in this weekend's tournament.
Wilson has been a key offensive power in her first season on the court as an Explorer after transferring from Northeastern. She leads the Explorers with 13.6 points per game including 14.5 ppg in league play. Her 14.5 ppg in league play ties her for fifth with All-Conference First Teamer Jessica Jenkins of St. Bonaventure. Over the Explorers' six-game win streak from Dec. 29 to Jan. 14, Wilson averaged 21.0 ppg. Included in that stretch is a La Salle career-best 31 points in a 68-62 win over Fordham and 28 in the Explorers' first win over Xavier in eight years. For those two contests, Wilson was named the Atlantic 10 and Big Five Player of the Week.
Wilson hit double figures in scoring in 19 of the Explorers' 29 games, including six games of hitting 20+ and one 30+ point contest. She also recorded her first double-double in an Explorer uniform, scoring 11 points and pulling down 12 rebounds against Big Five rival Saint Joseph's. She ranks third in the Atlantic 10 in three-point field goal percentage, swishing 39.4 percent of her triple attempts.
Wilson has been a defensive force as well, chipping in 4.6 rebounds per game and leading the team with 55 steals on the season. Her 55 steals also ranks her tied for fifth in the Atlantic 10 with Fordham's Arielle Collins.
Joining Wilson on the Atlantic 10 Third Team are: Andrea Hoover (Dayton), Epiphany Woodson (Charlotte), Genevieve Okoro (Richmond) and Tyeasha Moss (Xavier).
Payne had a productive rookie season for the Explorers, starting the first 26 games of her career. She averages 8.8 points per game, which is third on the team behind Wilson and
Alexis Scott, including 9.6 in league play. Payne proved herself dangerous on the inside and on the perimeter, as she is second on the team in three-pointers made (40), just one behind Wilson.
The freshman hit double figures in scoring in 12 contests, including a four-game stretch that saw her average 15.8 along with two career highs. That four-game stretch started with 10 points in the Explorers' win over Xavier, followed by a then-career-best and game-best 18 points at Charlotte in a return to her home state. She followed up with a 24-point performance at Richmond and put in 11 against top-seeded St. Bonaventure.
Payne earned two Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors this season. She picked up her first league honor in November after scoring 15 points in her collegiate debut against Lehigh and following up with 16 in her second career contest at Albany. She also earned Rookie of the Week honors after her 18 and 24 points at Charlotte and Richmond.
Defensively, Payne chips in 3.6 rebounds per game, recorded 24 steals and blocked nine shots.
Joining Payne on the All-Rookie Team is former high school teammate Hillary Sigmon (Charlotte), along with Andrea Hoover (Dayton), Ally Malott (Dayton) and Liz Brown (Richmond).
The Explorers, who earned the No. 8 seed in the 2012 Buick Atlantic 10 Championship, return to action on Friday, March 2, when they take on No. 9 Xavier at 11:30 a.m. at Hagan Arena at Saint Joseph's.
Atlantic 10 Major Awards:
Player of the Year: Shey Peddy, Temple
Rookie of the Year: Andrea Hoover, Dayton
Defensive Player of the Year: Shey Peddy, Temple
Sixth Player of the Year: Epiphany Woodson, Charlotte
Most Improved Player of the Year: Becca Wann, Richmond
Coach of the Year: Jim Crowley, St. Bonaventure
Atlantic 10 First Team:
Justine Raterman, Dayton, SR
Abby Oliver, Richmond, SR
Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure, SR
Megan Van Tatenhove, St. Bonaventure, SR
Shey Peddy, Temple, SR
Atlantic 10 Second Team:
Jennifer Hailey, Charlotte, JR
Wumi Agunbiade, Duquesne, SO
Alex Gensler, Duquesne, SR
Michelle Baker, Saint Joseph's, SR
Kristen McCarthy, Temple, SR
Atlantic 10 Third Team:
Andrea Hoover, Dayton, FR
Epiphany Woodson, Charlotte, SR
Brittany Wilson, La Salle, R-JR
Genevieve Okoro, Richmond, SO
Tyeasha Moss, Xavier, SR
Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team:
Hillary Sigmon, Charlotte, FR
Andrea Hoover, Dayton, FR
Ally Malott, Dayton, FR
Jada Payne, La Salle, FR
Liz Brown, Richmond, FR
Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team:
Jennifer Hailey, Charlotte, JR
Elle Queen, Dayton, R-SR
Jocelyn Floyd, Duquesne, JR
Alaina Walker, St. Bonaventure, JR
Shey Peddy, Temple, SR
Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team:
Epiphany Woodson, Charlotte, SR
Justine Raterman, Dayton, SR
Alex Gensler, Duquesne, SR
Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure, SR
Megan Van Tatenhove, St. Bonaventure, SR
