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Okananwa Tabbed ACC Sixth Player of the Year, Richardson Earns All-ACC Honors
3/5/2024 4:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM — Duke freshman Oluchi Okananwa has been tabbed the 2024 ACC Sixth Player of the Year, while junior Reigan Richardson earned a nod to the All-ACC Second Team, as the league unveiled its women's basketball postseason awards Tuesday during the ACC Network's ACC PM show.
Okananwa, who also garnered a spot on the All-ACC Freshman Team, becomes the first Duke women's player to be named the league's Sixth Player of the Year since the award's inception in 2008. She is also the 25th Blue Devil to be selected to the All-ACC Freshman team.
A spark plug off the bench for the Blue Devils throughout the season, Okananwa has injected a jolt of energy every time she steps onto the floor. Averaging 21.2 minutes per game, the Boston, Mass., product leads Duke on the glass with 6.1 rebounds per game and is third on the team in scoring with 9.6 points per contest.
Okananwa has reached double figures in 13 games and grabbed at least six rebounds in 14 contests as well, including a career-best 13 boards against Florida State, a 12-rebound effort in her Duke debut, 11 caroms at Virginia Tech and nine rebounds in three consecutive games.
Richardson collected her first ACC accolade and became the 38th Duke player all-time to earn a spot on one of the All-ACC Teams. The junior guard from Charlotte, N.C., has been a steady, veteran presence for the Blue Devils this season, starting all 29 games while leading the team in scoring with 11.9 points on 43-percent shooting. She has reached double figures 17 times this season, including five of her last six, grabbed four-plus rebounds six times and tallied two or more steals in eight games.
Syracuse's Felisha Legette-Jack was voted the ACC Coach of the Year, while Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley was tabbed ACC Player of the Year and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo garnered ACC Freshman of the Year honors. Pittsburgh's Liatu King was named Most Improved Player.
Voting for the league's annual postseason awards was done by the ACC's head coaches and a panel of media that cover the conference.
Having earned the No. 7 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament, the Blue Devils will take the court on Thursday, March 7 at 5 p.m., live on ACC Network, facing the winner of Wednesday's first round game between 10-seed Georgia Tech and 15-seed Pitt.
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu.
To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."
#GoDuke
2023-24 All-ACC Women's Basketball Team
Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse
Sixth Player of the Year: Oluchi Okananwa, Fr., G, Duke
Most Improved Player: Liatu King, Sr., F, Pitt
All-ACC First Team
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Ta'Niya Latson, Florida State
Deja Kelly, North Carolina
Aziaha James, NC State
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Liatu King, Pitt
All-ACC Second Team
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Amari Robinson, Clemson
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Kiki Jefferson, Louisville
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Tonie Morgan, Georgia Tech
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Reigan Richardson, Duke
Olivia Cochran Louisville
All-Defensive Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Dontavia Waggoner, Boston College
All-Freshman Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Zoe Brooks, NC State
Oluchi Okananwa, Duke
Alyssa Latham, Syracuse
Okananwa, who also garnered a spot on the All-ACC Freshman Team, becomes the first Duke women's player to be named the league's Sixth Player of the Year since the award's inception in 2008. She is also the 25th Blue Devil to be selected to the All-ACC Freshman team.
A spark plug off the bench for the Blue Devils throughout the season, Okananwa has injected a jolt of energy every time she steps onto the floor. Averaging 21.2 minutes per game, the Boston, Mass., product leads Duke on the glass with 6.1 rebounds per game and is third on the team in scoring with 9.6 points per contest.
Okananwa has reached double figures in 13 games and grabbed at least six rebounds in 14 contests as well, including a career-best 13 boards against Florida State, a 12-rebound effort in her Duke debut, 11 caroms at Virginia Tech and nine rebounds in three consecutive games.
Richardson collected her first ACC accolade and became the 38th Duke player all-time to earn a spot on one of the All-ACC Teams. The junior guard from Charlotte, N.C., has been a steady, veteran presence for the Blue Devils this season, starting all 29 games while leading the team in scoring with 11.9 points on 43-percent shooting. She has reached double figures 17 times this season, including five of her last six, grabbed four-plus rebounds six times and tallied two or more steals in eight games.
Syracuse's Felisha Legette-Jack was voted the ACC Coach of the Year, while Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley was tabbed ACC Player of the Year and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo garnered ACC Freshman of the Year honors. Pittsburgh's Liatu King was named Most Improved Player.
Voting for the league's annual postseason awards was done by the ACC's head coaches and a panel of media that cover the conference.
Having earned the No. 7 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament, the Blue Devils will take the court on Thursday, March 7 at 5 p.m., live on ACC Network, facing the winner of Wednesday's first round game between 10-seed Georgia Tech and 15-seed Pitt.
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu.
To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."
#GoDuke
2023-24 All-ACC Women's Basketball Team
Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse
Sixth Player of the Year: Oluchi Okananwa, Fr., G, Duke
Most Improved Player: Liatu King, Sr., F, Pitt
All-ACC First Team
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Ta'Niya Latson, Florida State
Deja Kelly, North Carolina
Aziaha James, NC State
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Liatu King, Pitt
All-ACC Second Team
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Amari Robinson, Clemson
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Kiki Jefferson, Louisville
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Tonie Morgan, Georgia Tech
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Reigan Richardson, Duke
Olivia Cochran Louisville
All-Defensive Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Dontavia Waggoner, Boston College
All-Freshman Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Zoe Brooks, NC State
Oluchi Okananwa, Duke
Alyssa Latham, Syracuse
Players Mentioned
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