Women's Basketball 3/8/2016 3:00:00 PM

FOUR HIGHLANDERS AMONG BIG SOUTH WBB POSTSEASON HONOREES

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the first time since the 1992-93 season, two Radford players have been named to the All-Big South first team as announced by the league Tuesday afternoon. The conference's 11 head coaches voted on the Big South women's basketball postseason honors.

In all, four Highlanders were recognized, headlined by Janayla White and Aisha Foy being selected to the first team. Lydia Rivers was honored as an all-freshman team member, while Rachael Ross was acknowledged on the all-academic team.

"We are very proud four of our ladies have received all-conference recognition this season," head coach Mike McGuire said. "It says a lot about the development of our student-athletes, but without team success, these awards would not be possible."

White and Foy, who both attended powerhouse Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, became the first Radford duo since Tammie Crown and Shannan Wilkey to be named to the All-Big South first team.

A member of the Big South all-freshman team last season, White had a sensational sophomore campaign where she led the conference in field-goal percentage (.577) and rebounding (10.0). White also ranked in the top 10 for scoring (12.0) and blocks (1.9).

In addition to being the only Big South player to average a double-double this season, White reached double-figure scoring 18 times and double-figure rebounding 12 times—twice pulling down 20-plus rebounds.

White, who already surpassed 100 career blocks, is only 10 rebounds away from notching the 500^th of her career. She would become one of just five players in program history to have 100 career blocks and 500 career rebounds.

"Janayla had a tremendous sophomore season," McGuire acknowledged. "Janayla has been a huge part of our success on both ends of the floor all season long. For her to be recognized as a first-team all-conference player as a sophomore is deserving and exciting at the same time."

Foy was named All-Big South for the second straight season after earning second-team accolades as a junior. The Highlanders' point guard averaged a team-best 12.2 points per game, while reaching double-figure scoring 18 times. She scored at least 20 points in four games this season.

The Virginia Beach, Va., native started every game she played as a senior before tearing her ACL against Charleston Southern on Feb. 13. In addition to engineering Radford's offense, Foy was the Highlanders' top threat from beyond the arc. Her 35.7 percent accuracy from 3-point land ranked fourth in the Big South. She ended her career with 129 made 3-pointers, which rank fifth all-time in program history.

"Aisha is a young lady that demonstrated constant growth during her career at Radford," McGuire pointed out. "For her to develop into a first-team all-conference guard is very fitting. I appreciate the head coaches recognizing her even when she could not finish her college career."

RU was represented on the all-freshman team for the second year in a row when Rivers earned one of the five spots given to the league's top freshmen. Rivers ranked second for the Highlanders and among Big South freshmen in rebounds per game (8.0) and blocks per game (1.1).

She reached double-figure scoring three times, which included her first collegiate double-double on Jan. 2 against Liberty (13 points/10 rebounds). Rivers pulled down 10-plus rebounds nine times, while leading RU in rebounds 13 times.

"I am so happy Lydia was recognized as one of the top freshmen in the Big South," McGuire expressed. "Lydia did a lot for our team this season that did not always show up in the box score. Lydia proved she is already one of the top rebounders in the conference as a freshman. I hope this recognition will help her realize what she is capable of now and in the future."

Ross became the 20^th straight Highlander to be named to the Big South all-academic team. The redshirt junior, who has already earned her bachelor's degree in communication, has a 3.9 GPA while pursuing her graduate degree in corporate and professional communication.

On the court, Ross scored double figures three times this season. She was a key reserve for RU, having been the first Highlander off the bench in 13 games. Additionally, Ross was Radford's top shot blocker in two games this season.

"Academics is a priority for our women's basketball program," McGuire stated. "Rachael has been an outstanding representative and exemplifies the commitment to her studies that we want in our student-athletes."

Radford, which secured the No. 3 seed for the 2016 Big South Women's Basketball Championship, opens play Friday at 8 p.m. in the quarterfinals against the winner between No. 6 seed High Point and No. 11 seed Winthrop. The quarterfinal game will be broadcast on ESPN3 from Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C.

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2015-16 Big South Conference Women's Basketball Award Winners

First-Team All-Conference
Chatori Major, G, Jr., UNC Asheville
Candace Brown, G/F, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Janayla White, F, Soph., Radford
Olivia Parker, F, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Aisha Foy, G, Sr., Radford

Second-Team All-Conference
Kaylah Keys, G, Jr., High Point
Catherine Kearney, F/C, R-Sr., Liberty
Aliyah Kilpatrick, G, Jr., Winthrop
Tianna Knuckles, G, Jr., UNC Asheville
Ced Gibson, G, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina

Honorable Mention All-Conference
Ashley Rininger, F/C, R-Sr., Liberty
Alyssa Mann, G, R-Jr., Charleston Southern
Cortney Storey, G, Soph., Presbyterian
Sadalia Ellis, G, Sr., Liberty
Aianna Kelly, G, Jr., Presbyterian

All-Freshman Team
Taylor Petty, G, Presbyterian
Emma Bockrath, G, High Point
Arianne Whitaker, C, Winthrop
Haleigh Hatfield, F, High Point
Lydia Rivers, F, Radford

All-Academic Team
Sarah Smith, F, Soph., Campbell
Alyssa Mann, G, Sr., Charleston Southern
Olivia Carlton, G, Jr., Coastal Carolina
Alicia Quinn, F/C, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
Kat Harris, G, Soph., High Point
Ashley Rininger, F/C, R-Sr., Liberty
Micaela Ellis, G, Soph., Longwood
Janie Miles, G, Soph., Presbyterian
Rachael Ross, C, R-Jr., Radford
Paige Love, G, Sr., UNC Asheville
Naima Jackson, G, Soph., Winthrop

Player of the Year
Chatori Major, G, Jr., UNC Asheville

Freshman of the Year
Taylor Petty, G, Presbyterian

Defensive Player of the Year
Aliyah Kilpatrick, G, Jr., Winthrop

Coach of the Year
Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick, UNC Asheville

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Ashley Rininger, F/C, R-Sr., Liberty

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