ORU's Luper, Bigham named All-Southland
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Monday, March 11, 2013
Oral Roberts senior guard Kevi Luper was a three-time player of the year in the Summit League. Central Arkansas forward Megan Herbert entered this season as a two-time Southland Conference player of the year.
Both of them couldn’t be the player of the year in the Southland Conference this season -- at least officially.
Herbert, the Southland’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, was named player of the year for a third consecutive season Monday.
Luper earned first-team All-SLC honors and was chosen to the conference’s all-defensive team. She was, however, selected as the Southland's top player by the website College Sports Madness.
ORU senior point guard Jaci Bigham was chosen second-team All-SLC. Freshman forward Taylor Cooper and junior post player Sarah Shelton were honorable mention selections.
Luper is the Southland’s second-leading scorer (19.3 ppg) and led the league in steals. The Adair product was among the conference’s top 10 players in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, 3-point percentage and blocks. She was a two-time defensive player of the year in the Summit League.
Bigham earned all-conference honors for the third time in her career. The McAlester alum averaged 12.3 points, led the Southland in assists and ranked second among league players in steals. She finished the regular season among the conference’s top five players in 3-point percentage, assist-to-turnover and minutes played.
Cooper averaged 10.2 points, ranking second among Southland freshmen. The rookie from Shawnee ranked third in 3-pointers per game and fourth in 3-point percentage.
Shelton, a transfer from SMU, averaged 10.8 points in conference games. She led the league in field goal percentage and ranks ninth in blocks.
2013 All-Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Teams
First Team
F Megan Herbert Sr. Central Arkansas (Rogers, Ark.)
G Kalis Loyd Sr. Lamar (Malmoe, Sweden)
G Kevi Luper Sr. Oral Roberts (Adair, Okla.)
F Sequeena Thomas Sr. Sam Houston State (Allentown, Pa.)
G Britni Martin Sr. Sam Houston State (Conroe, Texas)
Second Team
G Ashlyn Baggett Sr. McNeese State (Iota, La.)
G Jaci Bigham Sr. Oral Roberts (McAlester, Okla.)
G Caitlyn Baggett Sr. McNeese State (Iota, La.)
C Porsha Roberts So. Stephen F. Austin (Waco, Texas)
F Alisha Allen Sr. Nicholls State (Garland, Texas)
Third Team
G KK Babin Jr. Nicholls State (Gonzales, La.)
C Courtney Duever Jr. Central Arkansas (Austin, Texas)
F Aja Gibson Jr. Southeastern Louisiana (Somerville, Tenn.)
G Janelle Perez Fr. Northwestern State (El Paso, Texas)
F Brandi Simmons Sr. Southeastern Louisiana (Jackson, Miss.)
Honorable Mention
Gia Ayers, Lamar; Taylor Cooper, Oral Roberts; Cecilia Okoye, McNeese State; Chanice Smith, Sam Houston State; Sarah Shelton, Oral Roberts.
All-Defensive Team
Sequeena Thomas, Sam Houston State; Kalis Loyd, Lamar; Porsha Roberts, Stephen F. Austin; Kevi Luper, Oral Roberts; Carenn Baylor, Lamar.
Player of the year: Megan Herbert, Central Arkansas.
Defensive player of the year: Sequeena Thomas, Sam Houston State.
Freshman of the year: Janelle Perez, Northwestern State.
Newcomer of the year: Cecilia Okoye, McNeese State.
Coach of the year: Brenda Welch-Nicholls, Sam Houston State.
Associated Images:
Oral Roberts' Kevi Luper goes up for a shot against Northwestern State during a women's basketball game at the Mabee Center in January. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
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