JMU's Precious Hall Headlines All-CAA Women's Basketball Team
Kelly McCarthy
RICHMOND, Va. (March 11, 2015) – James Madison University guard
Precious Hall was the unanimous choice as the 2014-15 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, headlining the conference’s postseason awards. James Madison Head Coach
Kenny Brooks earned his second consecutive CAA Coach of the Year award. Hofstra University forward
Ashunae Durant was named the CAA Rookie of the Year while College of Charleston sophomore forward
Bre Bolden was selected as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year in voting by the league’s head coaches.
Hall had an impressive junior campaign, leading the league and ranking 18th in the nation in scoring with 21.0 points per game. She scored in double figures in all but one game this season, and posted at least 20 points 18 times. Hall is also ranked fifth nationally in three-point field goals made (3.2/g). With 92 three-pointers this year, Hall is tied for seventh on the CAA single season chart. She’s fifth in the CAA in free throw percentage (.773) and three-point field goal percentage (.382). Hall is the CAA’s active career leader in scoring with 1,431 points and field goals made (485). She’s also among the active career leaders in assists (196), steals (126), and three-pointers made (192) in 100 games played.
Durant, who earned a spot on the All-CAA Second Team as well, was named the CAA Rookie of the Week six times this season and also picked up USBWA National Freshman of the Week honors. She led all freshmen in scoring (11.7 ppg), posting double digits in 21 of the 27 games she played. She was also fifth in the CAA in rebounding (7.6/g) and field goal percentage (.494), and ninth overall in free throw percentage (.738).
Bolden, who also made the All-CAA Third Team, used her speed and quickness to cause havoc for opponents. She came away with a CAA-best 87 steals and her average of more than three per game ranked in the top-15 nationally. She posted multiple steals in 21 of 28 games played. She also crashed the boards, finishing in the top-10 in the CAA in this season with 6.8 caroms per game. She is the first Cougar to earn a major award from the CAA.
Brooks guided the Dukes to their third CAA regular-season championship in the last five years and their 10th consecutive 24-win season. Under his guidance, the Dukes received national rankings and accolades throughout the year. JMU was the CAA’s top rebounding and scoring team, finishing in the top-20 nationally in those categories. The three-time CAA Coach of the Year, not only reached the 300-win milestone, but he became the all-time winningest coach in program history by surpassing the legendary Shelia Moorman.
Joining Hall on the All-CAA First Team was senior JMU teammate
Lauren Okafor, UNCW senior
Kelva Atkins, Towson redshirt-senior
LaTorri Hines-Allen and Drexel forward
Sarah Curran.
Atkins had an outstanding senior season, averaging 17.0 points per game and finishing the year in the top-10 in the CAA in assists (3.7/g), steals (1.9/g), and three-point field goal percentage (.363). Only a sophomore, Curran has put together a solid season, starting all 29 games and averaging 12.2 points and 1.3 steals per contest. Hines-Allen led the CAA with 13 double-doubles this season and stands third in the CAA in scoring (16.9/g) and second in rebounding (9.6/g).
Okafor also earned a spot on the CAA All-Defensive Team and was the recipient of the Dean Ehlers Award. On the court, Okafor averaged a double-double this season with 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while adding 1.6 blocks per game. Off the court, her commitment to community service and academics earned her the Dean Ehlers Award, which is presented to student-athletes who embody the highest standards of leadership, integrity, and sportsmanship in conjunction with their academic and athletic achievements. Okafor, a psychology/pre-med major, is an Arthur Ashe Scholar-Athlete honoree and the recipient of the James Madison Le Ann Whitlock Memorial Scholarship. She’s also established herself as a campus leader with roles as Vice President of the Association of Black Psychologists and Financial secretary of JMU’s Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She also does extensive community service work with the AIDS Project of New Haven, the Harrisonburg Health and Rehabilitation Center, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Western State Hospital.
The All-CAA Second Team is comprised of Hofstra’s Durant, Delaware sophomore guard
Erika Brown (14.4 ppg), James Madison junior point guard
Angela Mickens (7.6 apg/2.2 spg), UNCW sophomore guard
Brie Mobley (13.3 ppg/1.6 spg), and Drexel junior guard
Rachel Pearson (11.2 ppg).
The All-CAA Third Team features CofC’s Bolden, Hofstra sophomore guard
Kelly Loftus (12.5 ppg/2.5 threes per game), Northeastern junior forward
Samantha DeFreese (13.6 ppg/6.9 rpg), William & Mary sophomore guard
Marlena Tremba (12.7 ppg), and James Madison junior guard
Jazmon Gwathmey (9.4 ppg/4.4 rpg).
The CAA Women's Basketball Postseason Awards Show will air across many of our Comcast SportsNet regional partners. For broadcast days and times in your area logon to
CAASports.com/tvinfo or download the
Postseason Awards Show clearance sheet.
The 2015 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship gets underway on March 12 with a pair of opening round games at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. and concludes with the championship game on March 15. Tickets are currently on sale for the 2015 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship at
www.caasports.com/tickets. For more information, visit our official championship pages under the championships tab at
CAASports.com or by logging on to
CAASports.com/WBBChampionship. Fans can join the social media conversation by using the official CAA Basketball hashtag,
#CAAHoops, on both Instagram and Twitter. Fans can also follow live statistics of each contest by visiting
CAAStats.com.
2015 CAA Women’s Basketball Postseason Honors
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2014-15 All-CAA First Team |
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Kelva Atkins |
UNCW |
Sr. |
G |
5-4 |
Stem, N.C./Granville Central (Columbia State) |
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Sarah Curran |
Drexel |
So. |
F |
5-11 |
Media, Pa./Archbishop Carroll |
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Precious Hall |
James Madison |
Jr. |
G |
5-8 |
Tallahassee, Fla./Maclay School |
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LaTorri Hines-Allen |
Towson |
R-Sr. |
F |
6-2 |
Montclair, N.J./Montclair |
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Lauren Okafor |
James Madison |
R-Sr. |
C |
6-3 |
Hamden, Conn./Hopkins School (Providence) |
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2014-15 All-CAA Second Team |
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Erika Brown |
Delaware |
So. |
G |
5-7 |
Haledon, N.J./John F. Kennedy |
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Ashunae Durant |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
F |
5-10 |
Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech |
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Angela Mickens |
James Madison |
Jr. |
G |
5-7 |
Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee |
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Brie Mobley |
UNCW |
So. |
G |
5-8 |
Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven |
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Rachel Pearson |
Drexel |
Jr. |
G |
5-11 |
West Chester, Pa./Archbishop Carroll |
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2014-15 All-CAA Third Team |
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Kelly Loftus |
Hofstra |
So. |
G |
5-10 |
Alexandria, Va./Mount Vernon |
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Bre Bolden |
College of Charleston |
So. |
G |
5-11 |
Edgewater, Md./South River |
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Samantha DeFreese |
Northeastern |
Jr. |
F |
6-0 |
Bergenfield, N.J./Berkshire School |
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Marlena Tremba |
William & Mary |
So. |
G |
5-10 |
Vienna, Va./Paul VI |
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Jazmon Gwathmey |
James Madison |
R-Jr. |
G |
6-2 |
Bealeton, Va./Liberty |
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CAA Player of the Year: Precious Hall, James Madison
CAA Rookie of the Year: Ashunae Durant, Hofstra
CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Bre Bolden, College of Charleston
CAA Coach of the Year: Kenny Brooks, James Madison
2014-15 Dean Ehlers Leadership Award: Lauren Okafor, James Madison |
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2014-15 CAA All-Rookie Team |
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Shay Burnett |
Elon |
Fr. |
G |
5-9 |
Graham, N.C./Southern Alamance |
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Ashunae Durant |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
F |
5-10 |
Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech |
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Malaya Johnson |
Elon |
Fr. |
C. |
6-3 |
Mount Airy, N.C./North Surry |
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Abby Rendle |
William & Mary |
Fr. |
C |
6-4 |
Reston, Va./South Lakes |
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Makeda Nicholas |
Delaware |
Fr. |
F |
6-1 |
North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon |
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Breonn Hughey |
Towson |
Fr. |
G |
5-4 |
Washington, DC/Capital Christian Academy |
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2014-15 CAA All-Defensive Team |
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Bre Bolden |
College of Charleston |
So. |
G |
5-11 |
Edgewater, Md./South River |
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Jazmen Boone |
William & Mary |
Sr. |
G |
5-8 |
Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne |
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Angela Mickens |
James Madison |
Jr. |
G |
5-7 |
Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee |
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Lauren Okafor |
James Madison |
R-Sr. |
C |
6-3 |
Hamden, Conn./Hopkins School (Providence) |
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Abby Rendle |
William & Mary |
Fr. |
C |
6-4 |
Reston, Va./South Lakes |
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2014-15 CAA All-Academic Team |
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Erin Hall |
College of Charleston |
Sr. |
G |
5-8 |
Norcross, Ga./Wesleyan School (Wake Forest) |
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Hannah Jardine |
Delaware |
So. |
F |
6-1 |
St. John's, Newfoundland/O'Donel |
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Stephanie Leon |
Delaware |
Sr. |
C |
6-3 |
Northport, N.Y./Northport |
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Florence Ouattara |
Drexel |
R-Fr. |
G |
5-10 |
Tiassle, Ivory Coast/Life Center Academy (N.J.) |
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Rachel Pearson |
Drexel |
Jr. |
G |
5-11 |
West Chester, Pa./Archbishop Carroll |
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Jackie Schluth |
Drexel |
Sr. |
F |
6-1 |
Medford, N.J./Bishop Eustace |
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Zora Stephenson |
Elon |
Sr. |
G |
5-10 |
Vienna, Va./Oakton |
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Sam Coffer |
Elon |
Sr. |
G/F |
6-1 |
Greensboro, N.C./North Guilford |
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Lauren Brown |
Elon |
So. |
G |
5-9 |
Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta |
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Lauren Okafor |
James Madison |
R-Sr. |
C |
6-3 |
Hamden, Conn./Hopkins School (Providence) |
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Francesca Sally |
Northeastern |
So. |
C |
6-2 |
Denver, Colo./Denver East |
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Amencie Mercier |
Northeastern |
Sr. |
G |
5-7 |
Pierrefonds, Quebec/Dawson College |
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Amber Reeves |
UNCW |
So. |
G |
5-9 |
Marietta, Ga./North Cobb |
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Marlena Tremba |
William & Mary |
So. |
G |
5-10 |
Vienna, Va./Paul VI |
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Kyla Kerstetter |
William & Mary |
Sr. |
G |
5-11 |
Brentwood, Tenn. |
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