NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball head coach Nikki McCray was named Virginia Sports Information Directors State Coach of the Year while Taylor Edwards was tabbed to the First Team All-State.
McCray, the C-USA Coach of the Year and a 2020 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year Finalist, led ODU to a 24-6 overall record. McCray guided the Monarchs to 20+ wins for the second-straight season. The Monarchs opened the season by leading ODU to an 89-77 win over Auburn, which marked its first victory over a Power 5 opponent since March 2015. The Monarchs also snapped Rice's 30 conference game win streak at the Chartway Arena on Feb. 13. Her defense finished ranked first in the country for holding teams to three-point field goals and 15th in the country in scoring defense. In just her third season at ODU, McCray's Monarchs earned votes in the AP Top 25 poll and the WBCA Coaches Poll for the first time since December 2008. On Feb. 18, her team was named NCAA Team of the Week following her performance over Rice, which propelled the team to the top of the league at the time. Picked to finish fifth in the league, McCray guided the Monarchs to a second-place finish with a 14-4 mark in C-USA play.
Edwards, an All-C-USA First Team selection turned in a strong senior campaign, leading the Monarchs in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game. The Portsmouth, Va., native has also dished out 99 assists and averages 5.8 rebounds per game. The guard poured in a career-high 29 points this season in the Monarchs contest against Charlotte. She has led ODU in scoring during five contests this season. Edwards progressed her play in league play, averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds.
First Team
Taylor Edwards, Old Dominion
Chanette Hicks, Norfolk State
Eva Hodgson, William & Mary
Kamiah Smalls, James Madison
Jocelyn Willoughby, Virginia
Second Team
Nicole Cardano-Hillary, George Mason
Kayla Cooper-Williams, James Madison
Keyen Green, Liberty
Kyla McMakin, Longwood
Tera Reed, VCU
Laren VanArsdale, Hampton
Player of the Year
Jocelyn Willoughby, Virginia
Rookie of the Year
Kyla McMakin, Longwood
Coach of the Year
Nikki McCray, Old Dominion
McCray Tabbed VaSID Coach of the Year; Edwards First Team All-State
