NORFOLK, Va. | Norfolk State University graduate guard Camille Downs and head women's basketball coach Larry Vickers garnered top accolades as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its postseason honors on Tuesday night.
Downs repeated as the MEAC's Defensive Player of the Year honor, while Vickers was selected the MEAC Coach of the Year.
Downs and Deja Francis were selected to the All-MEAC First Team, while Kierra Wheeler was named to the third team. The Spartans picked up three selections on the All-MEAC Defensive team, headlined by Downs. Wheeler and Mahoganie Williams also were named to the all-defensive squad.
Downs is one of the best in the country defensively, ranking fifth nationally in steals and steals per game. She led the Spartans in scoring (12.0 ppg), steals (3.4 spg) and is third in rebounding (4.7 rpg).
The Fredericksburg, Va. native paced NSU in scoring 10 times, including a season-high 25 points at North Carolina Central and currently is seventh in points per game in the MEAC. In addition, Downs, who was a three-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection, has led the team in steals 13 times, with a season-best six coming twice (Penn State and Maryland Eastern Shore).
Vickers guided the team to back-to-back MEAC regular season crowns as the Spartans went 11-3 in conference play. The eighth-year head coach surpassed the 100-win plateau in November and was instrumental in leading Norfolk State to its first 23-win season in school history.
Francis, who earned All-MEAC Preseason First Team Honors, is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game. She is shooting 35.2 percent from the field and averaging 3.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. The Queens, N.Y. native is tops in the conference in numerous categories, including second in assists, fourth in steals and steals per game, fifth in free-throw percentage and ninth in scoring.
Wheeler, who was named the MEAC Player of the Week four times, is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, along with 1.0 blocks per game. The Minneapolis, Minn. native leads the MEAC in rebounding, field-goal percentage and is second in blocked shot.
Williams, an All-MEAC Second Team Preseason Selection, was named the conference Defensive Player of the Week on January 10. She led the Spartans in blocked shots, averaging 1.2 per game and pulled down 3.4 rebounds. The Monroe, La. native leads the MEAC in blocked shots.
Howard's Destiny Howell earned the MEAC's Player of the Year award and Jerni Kiaku, of North Carolina Central, was selected the MEAC Rookie of the Year.
Norfolk State opens the 2023 MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament as the top seed and will face South Carolina State, the eighth seed, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is set for 12 p.m. from the Norfolk Scope Arena and all tournament games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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