NORFOLK, Va. — Florida A&M University freshman guard Alaina Rice was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year, the conference announced on Friday.
Rice played and started in all 27 games for the Lady Rattlers as a freshman. She finished second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game. In addition, she averaged 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 27.1 minutes. She shot 31.8 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from behind the 3-point line. The Rockledge, Fla. native scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-high 22 points against Howard.
Joining Rice on the MEAC All-Rookie Team was Tatum Hayes (Bethune-Cookman), Alexandria Hamilton (Coppin State), Anissa Rivera (North Carolina Central) and Jayah Hicks (South Carolina State).
Chanette Hicks, of Norfolk State, highlighted the All-MEAC First Team as she was named the MEAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Chance Graham (Coppin State), Chelsea Mitchell (Morgan State), Amaya Scott (Bethune-Cookman) and Paulina Afiyie (North Carolina Central) were also named to the first team.
Ashanti Hunt (Bethune-Cookman), Ayonna Williams (Howard), La'Deja James (Norfolk State), Cinia McCray (North Carolina A&T State) and Kieche White (North Carolina Central) were selected to the All-MEAC Second Team.
Daniella Hatcher (Bethune-Cookman), Sharajah Collins (Delaware State), Jayla Thornton (Howard), Dahnye Redd (Morgan State) and Deja Winters (North Carolina A&T State) earned All-MEAC Third-Team Honors.
Morgan State's Ed Davis was named the MEAC Coach of the Year.
Florida A&M ended its season on Thursday with a heartbreaking 66-64 loss to rival Bethune-Cookman. The Lady Rattlers finished at 6-21 overall, 4-12 in the MEAC.
