JONESBORO, Ark. (04/17/12) — The Arkansas State University women’s basketball program honored its student-athletes Tuesday night at the annual ASU women’s basketball post-season banquet at the Cooper Alumni Center on the ASU campus. 

Brad Bobo, the “Voice of the Red Wolves,” served as emcee of the event.  Bobo introduced Red Wolves Head Coach Brian Boyer to those in attendance, and Boyer, along with assistants Jennifer Sullivan, Todd Schaefer, Leslie Larsen and Shaquita Lee presented the following awards:

First year letterwinners were presented with letter jackets, while second-year players were presented with custom-made photo collages filled with various action shots from games throughout their careers. 

Juniors Andi Watson (Jonesboro, Ark.) and Quinishia McDowell (Monroe, La.) were presented with Red Wolves wristwatches, while seniors NeNe Hurst-McLennan (St. Louis, Mo.) and Meghan Lewis (St. Louis, Mo.) were presented with custom Red Wolves basketballs for their years of outstanding service and leadership to the ASU women’s basketball program. 

Hurst was named as the team’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after she became the only player in ASU history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 200 steals, 100 three-pointers and 50 blocks in a career.  Hurst-McLennan finished her career with 1,262 points, 580 rebounds, 294 assists, 222 steals, 109 three-pointers and 51 blocked shots.  She was second on the team in scoring during the 2011-12 season at 11.5 points per game and added 43 steals and 10 blocked shots.

Morrill was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 16.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, both team highs, during the season, and finished the year as the Sun Belt Conference’s top free-throw shooter, hitting on 87.7 percent of her team-high 114 attempts.  She scored in double figures in 28 of ASU’s 30 games this season, posted two 30-point games and eight 20-point games. Morrill led the Red Wolves in scoring 18 times and in field goal percentage 14 times.

Awards given for individual accomplishments throughout the season included Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference First-Team to Hurst-McLennan, Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Sun Belt Conference Second-Team All-Conference and the Arizona State Classic All-Tournament team to Morrill.

Hurst was also recognized for finishing fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in league games at 2.1 steals per game and Morrill was recognized for leading the SBC in free throw shooting in all games (.877) and in SBC games (.854).

Morrill also won the Student Athlete of the Year award for excellence in the classroom and the Red Wolves Excellence Award, given each year for displaying excellence in academics, community service, and character along with pride in ASU and heart, effort and determination on and off the court.