TSU's Kennerson named SWAC Player of the Year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas Southern guard Joyce Kennerson has been named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year, the league announced Monday.

The announcement comes as part of the reveal of the 2017-18 all-conference teams. The awards and all-league teams were voted on by the SWAC's coaches and sports information directors.

A first-team selection for the second-straight year, Kennerson led the SWAC in scoring at 24.1 points per game and currently stands among the top five in the country in the category, briefly leading the nation at one point this season.

The Port Arthur, Texas native scored at least 20 points in 22 of Texas Southern's 28 games this year. She also posted six 30-point games this season while dishing out 3.6 assists a night, good for fifth-best in the league.

Kennerson shot 41.6 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from deep, with both figures ranking her ninth and third, respectively in the conference.

The junior's 75.5-percent clip from the charity stripe is fifth-best in the league. Kennerson also accounted for 1.8 steals per game, tied for 10th best in the league.

The entire list of awards and first and second teams are below:

ALL-SWAC FIRST TEAM 
Guard – Joyce Kennerson – Texas Southern 
Guard – Shakyla Hill – Grambling State 
Forward – Briana Green – Southern 
Forward – Monisha Neal – Grambling State 
Center – Tatyana Calhoun – Alabama State

ALL-SWAC SECOND TEAM 
Guard – Shala Dobbins – Prairie View A&M 
Guard – Alexus Freeman – Alcorn State 
Forward – Faith Ohanta – Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
Forward – Miracle Rushing – Alcorn State 
Center – Shawntayla Harris – Arkansas-Pine Bluff

PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
Joyce Kennerson – Texas Southern

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
Briana Green - Southern

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 
Shala Dobbins – Prairie View A&M

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR 
Jhyrah Cobb – Prairie View A&M

COACH OF THE YEAR 
Sandy Pugh - Southern