Amber Leggett Named Southland Women’s Basketball Player of the Year
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston’s Amber Leggett is the 2020-21 Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, the league announced Tuesday. The award was announced alongside four other superlative honors and the 2020-21 Southland All-Conference rosters. Southland yearly awards are presented by
Ready Nutrition.
Leggett compiled a strong junior season for Sam Houston, pushing the Bearkats to a 9-5 record in conference play. The Navarre, Fla., native leads the league in scoring with 19.5 points per game against conference opponents. She also ranks ninth in the conference with 7.0 rebounds per game in Southland play. Leggett has recorded five double-doubles this season, has scored in double digits in 13 consecutive games, registered nine games with at least 20 points and has eclipsed the 30-point mark in two games this season. She was also named a first team all-conference selection for the second time in her career. This season marks the third time in conference history that two players from the same school have won basketball Player of the Year honors, as Zach Nutall was named the Men’s Player of the Year for Sam Houston on Monday.
Central Arkansas’ Lucy Ibeh was named Newcomer of the Year and a first team all-conference honoree after ranking fifth in the league with 15.1 points per game on a 46.8-percent shooting average sin conference play. Ibeh threw down five double-double performances in 14 starts and 16 appearances for UCA. She closed out the season scoring in double figures in 12 of her final 13 contests. Ibeh also claimed All-Defensive distinctions after ripping 51 steals this season, accounting for 31.9 percent of the Sugar Bears’ steals.
Lamar’s Sabria Dean was named Freshman of the Year, while teammate Jadyn Pimentel earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after pushing the Cardinals to a 9-5 conference record. Dean dished out 40 assists on the season for an average of 1.8 per game to go along with 7.1 points per contest. Pimentel closed out the regular season ranked 25th in the nation with 58 steals in order to earn a spot on the All-Defensive team for the second-consecutive season.
Stephen F. Austin head coach Mark Kellogg was named the Southland Coach of the Year after steering the Ladyjacks to a 14-0 run through conference play and a 22-2 overall record on the season. Kellogg’s team ranks first nationally in scoring margin, downing opponents by an average of 34.1 points. He has also shaped a sturdy defense that ranks fifth in the nation after allowing just 51.3 points per game.
Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin lead the way with three all-conference selections apiece, followed by two selections each from Abilene Christian and Southeastern Louisiana. Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist, Lamar, McNeese and Nicholls produced one all-conference honoree each.
In addition to Ibeh and Pimentel, Sam Houston’s Courtney Cleveland and Stephen F. Austin’s Aiyana Johnson and Stephanie Visscher round out the Southland All-Defensive roster.
All-conference teams and individual awards are nominated and voted upon by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors. Voting for oneself or one's own players/coaches is not permitted.
The opening round of play at the 2021 Hercules Tires Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament tips off Wednesday, March 10, at Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. No. 8-seed Houston Baptist will take on No. 9 McNeese in game one at 11 a.m. CT, followed by No. 7 Abilene Christian against No. 10 UIW in game two at 2 p.m. Each of the tournament’s preliminary rounds will be broadcast on ESPN+. Sunday’s championship matchup will be televised at 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Player of the Year: Amber Leggett, Sam Houston
Defensive Player of the Year: Jadyn Pimentel, Lamar
Freshman of the Year: Sabria Dean, Lamar
Newcomer of the Year: Lucy Ibeh, Central Arkansas
Coach of the Year: Mark Kellogg, Stephen F. Austin
2021 Women’s Basketball All-Conference First Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Lucy Ibeh |
Central Arkansas |
F |
Jr. |
Lagos, Nigeria |
| Micaela Wilson |
Lamar |
F |
R-Jr. |
Rayville, La. |
| Chelsea Cain |
Nicholls |
F |
So. |
Prairieville, La. |
| Amber Leggett2 |
Sam Houston |
F |
Jr. |
Navarre, Fla. |
| Stephanie Visscher2 |
Stephen F. Austin |
G |
Jr. |
Lulea, Sweden |
2021 Women’s Basketball All-Conference Second Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Alyssa Adams |
Abilene Christian |
F/C |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Anna McLeod |
Abilene Christian |
G |
R-Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Timia Jefferson |
Houston Baptist |
G |
So. |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Aiyana Johnson2 |
Stephen F. Austin |
F/C |
Jr. |
Lee’s Summit, Mo. |
| Zya Nugent |
Stephen F. Austin |
G |
So. |
Denison, Texas |
2021 Women’s Basketball All-Conference Third Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Divine Tanks |
McNeese |
F |
Jr. |
Lake Charles, La. |
| Courtney Cleveland |
Sam Houston |
F |
Sr. |
Arlington, Texas |
| Faith Cook |
Sam Houston |
G |
R-Sr. |
Baytown, Texas |
| Morgan Carrier |
Southeastern Louisiana |
G/F |
Sr. |
New Iberia, La. |
| Hailey Giaratano |
Southeastern Louisiana |
G |
So. |
Ponchatoula, La. |
2 Two-time All-Conference selection
2021 Women’s Basketball All-Defensive Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Lucy Ibeh |
Central Arkansas |
F |
Jr. |
Lagos, Nigeria |
| Jadyn Pimentel2 |
Lamar |
G |
Sr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Courtney Cleveland |
Sam Houston |
F |
Sr. |
Arlington, Texas |
| Aiyana Johnson |
Stephen F. Austin |
F/C |
Jr. |
Lee’s Summit, Mo. |
| Stephanie Visscher2 |
Stephen F. Austin |
G |
Jr. |
Lulea, Sweden |
2 Two-time All-Defensive selection