The Benedictine Mesa Women's Basketball team garnered multiple Cal Pac awards during the banquet on Saturday, March 2nd.
Nyah Henderson earned the Defender of the Year title, showcasing her prowess as the team's second-leading rebounder with 181 for the season and second in steals with 32. Henderson's standout performance included a record-setting game against UC Merced, where she secured an impressive 17 rebounds. She received further recognition by being named to the All-Defensive Team and earning an Honorable Mention for the All-Conference team.
Alize Ruiz was named Newcomer of the Year, contributing significantly to the team's success by averaging a double-double for the season with 289 rebounds and 433 points. Ruiz's impact was further solidified as she unanimously secured a spot on the First Team All-Conference.
Raenesha Willis earned a place on the All-Conference Second Team, showcasing her leadership skills and contributing to the team's victories with 203 points and 128 rebounds during the season.
Maria Moore received an Honorable Mention for the All-Conference team, with her impressive shooting skills contributing to 234 points and a 30.6% success rate from the 3-point line.
RaShawn Howell was named Coach of the Year, leading the team to a commendable 15-11 overall record and an impressive 15-5 conference record. Under Howell's guidance, BenU secured a #2 ranking entering the Cal Pac Tournament and held the #1 spot in the conference for a significant portion of the season. In just her second season, Howell has made a substantial impact on the Benedictine program.
Amber Ayon was recognized as the Champion of Character, embodying the five core NAIA values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship, and Servant-Leadership.