Martin Caps Career as Player of the Year

Alex Martin capped her career off at Spalding University as the 2018-19 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, becoming just the second player in program history to take home the conference's top award. Spalding head coach Charlie Just was named the Coach of the Year while MacMurray College's Chassidy Hays takes home the Newcomer of the Year award.

Martin, a senior from Louisville, Ky., filled up the stat sheet over her four year Golden Eagle career. This season she averaged 18.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per conference game. She ranked in the top ten in the conference in total points, total rebounds, assists, and steals. Martin finishes as Spalding's career leader in assists and steals and joined the 1,000 point club in early December. She scored in double figures in all but two games this season including a career-high 35 points. With Martin controlling the offense the Golden Eagles closed out the regular season by winning a school record 12 straight games.

Spalding's Charlie Just was chosen by his peers as the 2019 SLIAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. Just is receiving the 3rd SLIAC Coach of the Year award during his career. He led the Golden Eagles to a 19-6 regular season mark, going 14-2 in conference play. Those win totals were an increase of eight overall wins and six conference wins from last year. Coach Just also guided the Golden Eagles back to the SLIAC Tournament after a two-year absence, earning the #2 seed in this year's tournament.

The 2019 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year goes to MacMurray College's Chassidy Hays. She averaged 15.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per game against conference opponents, leading the league in both rebounds and field goal percentage (.607). She recorded six double-doubles in conference play and set a new Highlander record for total rebounds in a season. She had a single game high of 40 points and twice recorded a 20 rebound game this season. Hays is the fourth player in program history to win the award and the first since 2016.

The conference also awarded the Team Sportsmanship award with Blackburn College receiving the award for the second straight season. This award is given to the school whose fans, players, and coaches best represent the qualities of sportsmanship.