USBWA Virginia News

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – For their performances in the period through Sunday, Jan. 21, this week’s five Ann Meyers Drysdale national honorees are Marshall guard Abby Beeman, UConn guard and past USBWA national player of the year Paige Bueckers, Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair, North Carolina guard Deja Kelly, and Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon. The Tamika Catchings freshman award goes to Virginia guard Kymora Johnson and the National Team of the Week is Stanford.

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The competition of the last seven days offered lots to write about and many performances to highlight while off the court the much-anticipated new media deal with the NCAA was announced, bringing enhanced coverage to women’s events, particularly women’s basketball. For their performances in the period through Sunday, Jan. 7, this week’s five Ann Meyers Drysdale national honorees are Texas forward Madison Booker, UT Arlington forward Avery Brittingham, Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson and Virginia guard Elizabeth Kitley.

For the season's ninth U.S. Basketball Writers Association Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week and the organization's Tamika Catchings women's freshman player honor, Arizona State forward Ja'Tavia Tapley is the national player while Virginia guard Shemera Williams has been chosen for the freshman citation after each helped its team go unbeaten during the week ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 12.

Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who has guided the Cavaliers to a 28-2 overall regular-season record that includes an ACC-record 17-1 conference mark, has been named the winner of the Henry Iba Award, given annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to the national coach of the year. The Cavaliers added a 29th win today in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal vs. Louisville.

Virginia's Tony Bennett is the 2014-15 recipient of the Henry Iba Award, presented annually to the national coach of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. The award, voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA, is based on regular-season performance.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has chosen the recipients of its 2009-10 women's postseason honors. Connecticut's Tina Charles is the National Player of the Year, while Nebraska coach Connie Yori is the National Coach of the Year and Baylor's Brittney Griner is the National Freshman of the Year. All three selections will be honored at he USBWA Women's Awards Breakfast on Tues., April 6 in San Antonio.