Redhawks Make Second Straight Postseason Appearance in Second Straight 20-Win Season: Seattle University women’s basketball (20-11) celebrates a successful first season in the Western Athletic Conference, as well as their second straight 20-win season and their second straight postseason appearance, falling in the first round of the WNIT to St. Mary’s, 68-51. The last time the program recorded back-to-back 20 win seasons at any level was 1986-87 and 1987-88. Despite the loss, the Redhawks exceeded expectations for their first year in the conference, winning the regular season conference title and coming into the WAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed. Kacie Sowell was named WAC Player of the Year, Coach Bonvicini was named WAC Coach of the Year, and Sylvia Shephard was named WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Sowell was also named First-Team All-Conference, with Shephard and Daidra Brown named to the WAC All-Defensive Team. The team finished in the top five in the nation in NCAA DI steals per game. Individually, Kacie Sowell finished in the top 10 in the country in field-goal percentage and in the top 20 in double-doubles and Sylvia Shephard finished in the top 15 in steals per game. For all the most up-to-date information throughout the off-season, stay tuned to www.GoSeattleU.com, @su_athletics on Twitter, Seattle U Athletics on Facebook, and @su_wbb on Instagram.
All-WAC Honors: As voted upon by the league’s 10 head coaches, Joan Bonvicini was named WAC Coach of the Year, Kacie Sowell was named Player of the Year, and Sylvia Shephard was named Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Sowell was named to the First Team, Shephard was named to the second team, and Shephard and Daidra Brown were named to the All-Defensive Team.
WAC All-Tournament Team: Kacie Sowell and Sylvia Shephard were named to the WAC All-Tournament team as voted upon by media at the tournament.
Bonvicini Coach of the Year History: Bonvicini has now been named Coach of the Year in every conference she has been a part of, named WCAA Coach of the Year and Big West Coach of the Year three times (1981, 1984, 1986) at Long Beach State, and PCAA Coach of the Year in 1986. At Arizona, she was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1998 and was named Independent Coach of the Year in 2012. Regionally, she has been honored as Region VIII Coach of the Year four times (1981, 1984, 1986, 1998) and, nationally, was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year in 1981.
Sowell Passes 1000 Career Points: With her layup at the 10:12 mark of the second half, Kacie Sowell became only the 12th player in program history to pass the 1000 career point mark in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament vs. New Mexico State on Mar. 13.
Bonvicini Named to Top 30 for Naismith College Women’s Coach: Head coach Joan Bonvicini was named to the Top 30 list of finalists for the Naismith College Women’s Coach alongside coaches like Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma, Kentucky’s Matthew Mitchell, and Washington’s Kevin McGuff.
Redhawks Celebrate Season at Team Banquet: The team held their annual team banquet at the Space Needle on Mar. 18, as they especially celebrated their conference success and postseason destiny. Awards were given out for top rebounder (Kacie Sowell), team captains, best free-throw percentage (Ashley Ward), and most assists (Sylvia). Several votes, as voted upon by the team, were also given including Most Inspirational (strength coach Wes Philips), Defensive Player of the Year (Daidra Brown), Most Improved (Brenda Adhiambo), and MVP (Kacie Sowell).
All-WAC Honors: As voted upon by the league’s 10 head coaches, Joan Bonvicini was named WAC Coach of the Year, Kacie Sowell was named Player of the Year, and Sylvia Shephard was named Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Sowell was named to the First Team, Shephard was named to the second team, and Shephard and Daidra Brown were named to the All-Defensive Team.
WAC All-Tournament Team: Kacie Sowell and Sylvia Shephard were named to the WAC All-Tournament team as voted upon by media at the tournament.
Bonvicini Coach of the Year History: Bonvicini has now been named Coach of the Year in every conference she has been a part of, named WCAA Coach of the Year and Big West Coach of the Year three times (1981, 1984, 1986) at Long Beach State, and PCAA Coach of the Year in 1986. At Arizona, she was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1998 and was named Independent Coach of the Year in 2012. Regionally, she has been honored as Region VIII Coach of the Year four times (1981, 1984, 1986, 1998) and, nationally, was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year in 1981.
Sowell Passes 1000 Career Points: With her layup at the 10:12 mark of the second half, Kacie Sowell became only the 12th player in program history to pass the 1000 career point mark in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament vs. New Mexico State on Mar. 13.
Bonvicini Named to Top 30 for Naismith College Women’s Coach: Head coach Joan Bonvicini was named to the Top 30 list of finalists for the Naismith College Women’s Coach alongside coaches like Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma, Kentucky’s Matthew Mitchell, and Washington’s Kevin McGuff.
Redhawks Celebrate Season at Team Banquet: The team held their annual team banquet at the Space Needle on Mar. 18, as they especially celebrated their conference success and postseason destiny. Awards were given out for top rebounder (Kacie Sowell), team captains, best free-throw percentage (Ashley Ward), and most assists (Sylvia). Several votes, as voted upon by the team, were also given including Most Inspirational (strength coach Wes Philips), Defensive Player of the Year (Daidra Brown), Most Improved (Brenda Adhiambo), and MVP (Kacie Sowell).