ATLANTA, Ga. (February 22, 2024) – The Southern Athletic Association has unveiled its 2023-24 women’s basketball Athletes of the Year, Coach of the Year, and All-Conference teams.
Haley Franklin of SAA champion Millsaps was voted the Player of the Year while Majors leader Justin LeBlanc was named Coach of the Year. Giana Vlahakos of Rhodes earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while Riley Brady of Hendrix was named the Rookie of the Year.
A total of 25 women’s basketball players from the SAA were honored on all-conference teams. Franklin was joined on the First Team by Kenadie Lee (Berry), Avery Marsh (Rhodes), Bailey Rucker (Centre), and Kiemarya Rivera (Oglethorpe). Both Brady and Vlahakos earned spots on the Second Team, along with Elly Callihan (Berry), Olivia Falvey (Sewanee), and Elyse Warren (Millsaps).
Complete 2023-24 Women's Basketball All-SAA
All-SAA voting was conducted among the conference’s eight head coaches.
Haley Franklin (Junior / Batton Rouge, La.) was a three-time SAA Athlete of the Week honoree this season and landed on the D3hoops.com national team of the week on December 19. The junior guard was second in the conference in scoring, putting up 17.9 points a game in league play and averaging 18.7 points a night overall. She was 14
th in the SAA in rebounding at 5.4 a game and seventh with 2.7 assists a game while finishing fifth in field goal percentage (48 percent). Franklin had a huge game in a home win against Centre, posting 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 3-of-3 from long range, and adding six rebounds. She joins Velvet Johnson in 2015 as SAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year recipients from Millsaps.
Giana Vlahakos (Sophomore / Houston, Texas) gives Rhodes its fourth SAA Defensive Player of the Year honor, joining Taylor Dupree (2023), Sarah Johnson (2015), and Lauren Advant (2013). The sophomore from Houston led the conference and ranked 30
th nationally in blocks with 3.2 per game while sitting third in rebounding with 10.8 a night. Vlahakos was huge in an early-February win against Oglethorpe, recording seven blocks, six rebounds, and a steal for the Lynx.
Riley Brady (First Year / Little Rock, Ark.) enjoyed a standout first collegiate season for the Warriors, averaging a double-double in conference play with 12.9 points and a league-best 12.1 rebounds per game. Her 13 double-doubles on the season ranked 35
th in the nation while her rebounding average was 16
th best in Division III. Brady closed the regular season in a big way with 21 rebounds, including 12 offensive, to go along with 12 points, two assists and two blocks against Rhodes. She was named the SAA Athlete of the Week on January 2. Kennedi Burns in 2021 and Caitlin Kriesel-Bigler in 2013 are also Hendrix honorees as SAA Rookie of the Year.
Justin LeBlanc (Millsaps / 8th season) was voted the SAA Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, leading the Majors to the outright conference title with a 12-2 SAA mark and 22-4 overall record. His squad was picked to finish third in the SAA preseason poll started the season winning 10 of its first 11 games. Millsaps was a perfect 14-0 at home this season and will host the semifinal and finals of the SAA Tournament. Along with SAA Player of the Year Haley Franklin, LeBlanc guided second teamer Elyse Warren and honorable mention Garin Freeman to postseason honors.
2023-24 SAA Women’s Basketball All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year – Haley Franklin, Millsaps
Defensive Player of the Year – Giana Vlahakos, Rhodes
Rookie of the Year – Riley Brady, Hendrix
Coach of the Year – Justin LeBlanc, Millsaps
First Team All-SAA
Haley Franklin, Millsaps
Kenadie Lee, Berry
Avery Marsh, Rhodes
Bailey Rucker, Centre
Keimarya Rivera, Oglethorpe
Second Team All-SAA
Riley Brady, Hendrix
Elly Callihan, Berry
Olivia Falvey, Sewanee
Giana Vlahakos, Rhodes
Elyse Warren, Millsaps
Honorable Mention
Catherine Althoff, Rhodes
Kayla Antoine, Sewanee
Maya Cable, Birmingham-Southern
Garin Freeman, Millsaps
Sheraton Foster, Birmingham-Southern
Ellie Gearing, Berry
Makya Grinter, Centre
Montana Harris, Birmingham-Southern
Sylvia Kahoro, Berry
Ava Knoedl, Hendrix
A’niya Lagarde, Rhodes
Malia Melton, Oglethorpe
Kearstyn Seay, Rhodes
Anna Thomas, Centre
Emma Rose Vincent, Centre
All-Time SAA Women's Basketball Players/Coach of the Year
|
Player of the Year |
Defensive Player of the Year |
Rookie of the Year |
Coach of the Year |
| 2023-2024 |
Haley Franklin, Millsaps |
Giana Vlahakos, Rhodes |
Riley Brady, Hendrix |
Justin LeBlanc, Millsaps |
| 2022-2023 |
Alexys Mathangani, Rhodes |
Taylor Dupree, Rhodes |
Keimarya Rivera, Oglethorpe |
Wendie Austin, Centre |
| 2021-2022 |
Alli Mayeux, Rhodes |
Kennedy Moore, Berry |
Bailey Rucker, Centre |
Rodney Rogan, Rhodes |
| 2020-2021 |
Keira Downey, Rhodes |
Dia Fortenberry, Millsaps |
Kennedi Burns, Hendrix |
Justin LeBlanc, Millsaps |
| 2019-2020 |
Keira Downey, Rhodes |
Nikki Reed, Oglethorpe |
Amy Vazquez, Oglethorpe |
Alex Richey, Oglethorpe |
| 2018-2019 |
Lauren Ranson, Oglethopre |
Emilee Olsen, BSC |
Keira Downey, Rhodes |
Justin LeBlanc, Millsaps |
| 2017-2018 |
Savannah LeGate, Oglethorpe |
Heather Prowse, Hendrix |
Savannah LeGate, Oglethorpe |
Alex Richey, Oglethorpe |
| 2016-2017 |
Sarah Dyslin, Hendrix |
Lauren Ransom, Oglethorpe |
Emilee Olsen, BSC |
Mike Ricks, BSC |
| 2015-2016 |
Sarah Dyslin, Hendrix |
Braxton Thomas, Millsaps |
Yorisha Bryant, BSC |
Mike Ricks, BSC |
| 2014-2015 |
Velvet Johnson, Millsaps |
Sarah Johnson, Rhodes |
Sara Dyslin, Hendrix |
Chuck Winkelman, Millsaps |
| 2013-2014 |
Lauren Avant, Rhodes |
Jamie Tate, Hendrix |
Symone Daniels, Rhodes |
Matt Dean, Rhodes |
| 2012-2013 |
Paige Baechle, Centre |
Lauren Avant, Rhodes |
Caitlin Kriesel-Bigler, Hendrix |
Wendie Austin, Centre |