ATLANTA, Ga. – The Wildcats inside forward and leader in the team's rise up the ranks was rewarded today. Fort Valley State's Shekinah Rachel received the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year and All-SIAC First Team honors.
Rachel was FVSU's key cog as she helped the program post its most successful regular season in 11 years. The Wildcats stand at 14-10 and clinched the first winning season since it went 15-13 for the 2012-13 campaign.
The senior from Miami, Fla., picked up the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year as she ranked third in rebounding (9.7 rpg/222 rebounds), blocks (1.0 bpg/23 blocks) and steals (2.9 spg67 steals). She pulled down double figures in rebounds 12 times, swiped multiple steals in 20 of 23 games and swatted a shot in 17 contests. The inside player also ranked 12th in free throw percentage at 74.1%.
Along with her defensive prowess, Rachel earned All-SIAC First Team status as one of only five to reach the status. The forward averaged 13.1 points (7th in the league – 302 points), handed out 38 assists (1.7 apg/38 assists) and recorded 10 double-doubles on her efforts. Rachel had two of her 10 double-doubles against the SIAC East champion Savannah State, including her top game of 28 points, 12 rebounds and a block. The Wildcat netted six games where she scored 19-plus points with other games of 24 points and 10 rebounds versus Talladega College, 21 points and 10 boards against Miles College and 19 points and 14 caroms playing at Allen University.
In her two seasons at The Valley, Rachel has totaled 537 points (11.7 ppg), 389 rebounds (8.5 rpg), 109 steals (2.4 spg), 56 assists (1.2 apg) and 46 blocked shots (1.0 bpg) over 46 games.
Rachel and the Wildcats move on to the SIAC Tournament, which starts this Sunday, March 3. Due to finishing second in the SIAC East, FVSU will not play until the Quarterfinals next Friday (March 8) in the 2:30 p.m. contest against an opponent to be determined.
2024 SIAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First Team
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
SCHOOL
|
CLASS
|
HOMETOWN
|
|
Iemyiah Harris
|
Guard
|
Miles
|
Junior
|
Anniston, Ala.
|
|
Gracen Kerr
|
Point Guard
|
Kentucky State
|
Senior
|
Ansonia, Conn.
|
|
Amari Heard
|
Guard
|
Savannah State
|
Graduate
|
West Point, Miss.
|
|
Shekinah Rachel
|
Forward
|
Fort Valley State
|
Senior
|
Miami, Fla.
|
|
Nyla Allen
|
Guard
|
Savannah State
|
Senior
|
Jacksonville, Fla.
|
Second Team
|
NAME
|
POSITION
|
SCHOOL
|
CLASS
|
HOMETOWN
|
|
Corriana Evans
|
Forward
|
Clark Atlanta
|
Senior
|
Griffin, Ga.
|
|
Marta Duda
|
Forward
|
Spring Hill
|
R-Junior
|
Torun, Poland
|
|
Brailyn Tate
|
Point Guard
|
Lane
|
Junior
|
Baton Rouge, La.
|
|
Taleah Dilworth
|
Guard
|
Kentucky State
|
Junior
|
St. Louis, Mo.
|
|
Brittney Bolin
|
Guard
|
Tuskegee
|
Junior
|
Trophy Club, Texas
|
Coach of the Year: Amani Williams, Kentucky State
Player of the Year: Gracen Kerr, Kentucky State
Defensive Player of the Year: Shekinah Rachel, Fort Valley State
Newcomer of the Year: Marta Duda, Spring Hill
Freshman of the Year: Kellyn Hunter, Spring Hill
Elite 14 Honorees
Tederia Ashley (Miles, 4.0)
Talayah Boxley (Allen, 4.0)
Laila Christmon (Central State, 4.0)
-Wildcats-
