NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State senior guard
Raven Russell was voted second team All-MEAC, the conference office announced on Friday.
Russell is the lone Spartan to garner All-MEAC recognition after logging averages of 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 26 regular season games. The Millbrook, Alabama native ranks 17th in the MEAC in scoring and is in a two-way tie for 12th in steals per game. Additionally, her shooting percentage of 45.5 is fifth-best in the conference and currently sits as the 14th-highest field goal percentage in the program's Division I history.
The former transfer from Shelton State Community College has scored in double figures 18 times this season, including a career-high 22 points at Savannah State on Jan. 19, and has been NSU's leading scorer 10 times. During the 2018-19 season, Russell has led the Spartans in steals eight times, topped all NSU players in rebounds seven times and has been her team's leading assister in four games.
The postseason honor is the first in Russell's two-year career at Norfolk State. She also received Second Team Preseason All-MEAC honors prior to the start of the season.
NaJai Pollard took home player of the year honors, while Chance Graham was named the conference's defensive player of the year. Savannah State's Myasia Jones was recognized as the MEAC's top rookie, and Fred Batchelor was named coach of the year after guiding Maryland Eastern Shore to a second-place finish in the conference standings.
All voting was done by head coaches and sports information directors within the conference.
Norfolk State wrapped up its regular season with a 74-59 win over Howard on Thursday night. With the victory, the Spartans improved their record to 15-14 and finished 10-6 in the MEAC. The fourth-seeded Spartans begin their challenge for the 2019 MEAC Tournament title in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 2 p.m.
2018-19 All-MEAC Teams
Player of the Year: NaJai Pollard, Delaware State
Rookie of the Year: Myasia Jones, Savannah State
Defensive Player of the Year: Chance Graham, Coppin State
Coach of the Year: Fred Batchelor, Maryland Eastern Shore
First Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Angel Golden |
G |
5-8 |
Sr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Brooke Fields |
G |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Coppin State |
Owings Mills, Md. |
| Ciani Byrom |
G |
5-5 |
Sr. |
Md. Eastern Shore |
Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| C'Coriea Foy* |
G |
6-0 |
Jr. |
North Carolina A&T |
Fayetteville, N.C. |
| Adre'onia Coleman* |
G/F |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Morgan State |
Baltimore, Md. |
| NaJai Pollard |
F |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Richmond, Va. |
Second Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Sarah Edmond |
G |
5-9 |
Jr. |
Howard |
Freeport, N.Y. |
| Cinia McCray |
G |
5-9 |
Jr. |
North Carolina A&T |
Broadview, Ill. |
| Raven Russell |
G |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Millbrook, Ala. |
| Taylor Brown |
G/F |
6-0 |
Jr. |
South Carolina State |
Patterson, N.J. |
| Chance Graham |
F |
6-0 |
Jr. |
Coppin State |
Upper Marlboro, Md. |
Third Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Ayonna Williams |
G |
5-4 |
Jr. |
Howard |
Washington, D.C. |
| Rodneysha Martin |
G |
5-5 |
Sr. |
N.C. Central |
Olive Branch, Miss. |
| Jayla Thornton |
G |
5-9 |
So. |
Howard |
Washington, D.C. |
| Chasimmie Brown |
F |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Deltona, Fla. |
| Paulina Afriyie |
F |
5-11 |
Jr. |
N.C. Central |
Bronx, N.Y. |
All-Rookie Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Camary Harris |
G |
5-6 |
Fr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Suffolk, Va. |
| Mya Moye |
G |
5-6 |
Fr. |
Florida A&M |
Washington, D.C. |
| Ashia McCalla |
G |
5-6 |
Fr. |
Morgan State |
Greenbelt, Md. |
| Myasia Jones |
G |
5-10 |
Fr. |
Savannah State |
Lavonia, Ga. |
| Krislyn Marsh |
F |
6-0 |
Fr. |
Howard |
Duncanville, Texas |
*
denotes tie
