NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State senior guard Chanette Hicks is taking hardware home after a brilliant 2019-20 season, winning both MEAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year as the conference announced its postseason women's basketball awards on Friday. Senior guard La'Deja James was also named to the All-MEAC Second Team after a stellar senior season.

Hicks, a Virginia Tech transfer and Norfolk native, took the conference by storm, leading the MEAC in multiple statistical categories.  Hicks is first in the MEAC and 13^th in the nation with 20.1 points per game, almost five points more than the conference's second-leading scorer. She scored in double-figures in all but one of her 27 games this season.  Hicks also leads the MEAC with 4.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game. Her 4.8 steals is also ranked second nationally and is on pace to pass the NSU single season record. This year marks the first MEAC Player of the Year or Defensive Player of the Year award for Norfolk State women's basketball. No player has ever won both Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the MEAC for women's basketball.

While Hicks was a newcomer this year, those around the MEAC knew to expect a strong season from James following an impressive first year at NSU and an All-MEAC Tournament team selection last season. James is fifth in the MEAC in scoring with 14.1 points per game, and third in minutes played. She is also 10^th in the MEAC with 2.6 assists per game and ninth with 1.7 steals. James went off for a career-high 36 points on 12-of-18 shooting against N.C. Central on Feb. 3, earning her BOXTOROW National HBCU Player of the Week following the epic performance.
 
Chance Graham (Coppin State), Chelsea Mitchell (Morgan State), Amaya Scott (Bethune-Cookman) and Paulina Afiyie (North Carolina Central) were the other four players besides Hicks named to the All-MEAC First Team. Morgan State head coach Ed Davis won Coach of the Year. 
 
All voting was done by head coaches and sports information directors within the conference.
 
The Spartans wrapped up the regular season with a 73-55 loss to Morgan State. MSU and NSU split the season series and both ended the season with a 12-4 conference record to tie for second place in the regular season standings. Based on conference tiebreaking procedures and NSU's victory over first place Bethune-Cookman, the Spartans will have the No. 2 seed heading into the MEAC Tournament and play on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Scope Arena.

 

Voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
 
Player of the Year: Chanette Hicks, Norfolk State
Rookie of the Year: Alaina Rice, Florida A&M
Defensive Player of the Year: Chanette Hicks, Norfolk State
Coach of the Year: Ed Davis, Morgan State

2019-20 MEAC Women's Basketball All-MEAC Teams