FRISCO, Texas —The Southland Conference has nominated Nicholls' Molly VandenBout and UTRGV's Samantha Gonzalez for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the conference office announced. 

VandenBout shined on the diamond for the Colonels in 2025, starting all 55 games and playing at first base, pitcher and designated player. That helped her achieve selection to the Southland's Second Team All Conference, All-Tournament Team and an All-Louisiana Honorable Mention. She leaves Nicholls ranking second all-time in fielding percentage (.996) and 11th in doubles (29). She graduated with a 3.191 GPA in Business Administration and will attend LSU Law in fall 2025. 

Gonzalez compiled an impressive resumé during her time in The Valley, leaving UTRGV with four program records to her name including a mile time of 4:54.35  in the distance medley (11:55.33). Her outdoor accolades consist of a 1,500-meter record time of 4:30.33 and a 3,000-meter steeplechase time of 10:33.31.

She earned a spot on the 2024 Southland Cross Country All-Conference First Team, hallmarked by her first-place finish at the 2024 West Side Classic to lead the first-place team. Gonzalez won the award for UTRGV's Female Breakout Athete of the Year award in the 2021-22 academic year and has earned selection to multiple All-Academic teams in her collegiate career. 

About the NCAA Woman of the Year 
The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2025.