Old Dominion Earns CAA Player and Rookie of the Year Awards

RICHMOND, VA. -- The Colonial Athletic Association announced its all-conference women's basketball honorees this afternoon at the CAA Tournament banquet at the Richmond Marriott. Old Dominion's Lucienne Berthieu and Alli Spence headlined the winners, garnering Player and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

Berthieu captured the CAA Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season after sharing the award with former teammate and current WNBA star Mery Andrade. It marks the ninth consecutive season that a Lady Monarch has taken home the conference's Player of the Year award. A junior from Rennes, France, Berthieu leads the CAA in scoring (17.6 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg), and field goal accuracy (61.9%).

Spence, a guard from Lafayette, Colorado, earned CAA Rookie of the Year honors, marking the fourth time that a Lady Monarch has been honored with the title. Spence leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and currently averages 6.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.

Joining Berthieu on the All-CAA first team are junior Hamchetou Maiga and senior Natalie Diaz. Both Diaz and Maiga were also named to the CAA All-Defensive team. Joining Spence on the All-Rookie team was Virginia Beach native Okeisha Howard. Below is a complete listing of award-winners:

FIRST TEAM All-CAASECOND TEAM All-CAALucienne Berthieu, Old DominionRochelle Luckett, VCUNatalie Diaz, Old DominionKate Miller, AmericanHamchetou Maiga, Old DominionLiz Remus, VCUDanielle Melvin, East CarolinaWaynetta Veney, ECUJen Surlas, George MasonChandra Watkins, UNCWAll-ROOKIE TEAMALL-DEFENSIVE TEAMKristine Austgulen, VCULaTonia Beale, UNCWOkeisha Howard, Old DominionNatalie Diaz, Old DominionShanna Price, James MadisonKim Hairston, RichmondJen Sobota, William and MaryRochelle Luckett, VCUAlli Spence, Old DominionHamchetou Maiga, Old Dominion