The Port Arthur News
BEAUMONT — Lamar University’s Jenna Plumley was named the Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, the conference announced Monday.
Plumley, a transfer from the University of Oklahoma, who led Lamar to a share of the Southland Conference championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming State Farm Southland Conference Basketball Tournament, was also named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year.
Plumley joins former Lamar standout Shawnta Vanzant (2001) as the only players in Southland history named both player and newcomer of the year in the same season.
The junior guard set a Southland Conference record for 3-pointers this season with 97 and established the Lamar record for assists in a season with 196. She ranks in the top 10 nationally in both categories.
Plumley leads Lamar in scoring at 14.6 points per game and in steals with 82.
Lamar senior forward Darika Hill was named to the conference’s second team after averaging 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Freshman Kalis Loyd was named to the third team after averaging 13.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, all second on the Lady Cardinals.
Lamar’s leading rebounder, Trashanna Smith, who averages 7.9 rebounds per game to go along with a school record 62 blocked shots, earned honorable mention status.
Lamar (23-7) opens State Farm Southland Conference Basketball Tournament play at 6 p.m. Tuesday vs. No. 8 seed Southeastern Louisiana at the Merrell Center in Katy.
The game will be broadcast on KLVI (560-AM with Harold Mann doing play-by-play.
