Just days after completing a perfect 14-0 Southeastern Conference season, the LSU women’s basketball team earned numerous SEC accolades. The 12 SEC coaches voted Van Chancellor as Coach of the Year and senior center Sylvia Fowles as Player of the Year. Chancellor and Fowles beat out Tennessee’s coach Pat Summitt and junior forward Candace Parker, who took home both awards in 2007. Fowles, who averages 17.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, is only the second LSU player to win the award. Former LSU guard Seimone Augustus won the award in 2005 and 2006. Fowles also received Defensive Player of the Year honors, the first time an LSU player has won the award. “For the coaches to select me as the SEC’s top player is a great honor, but I share this award with my teammates and my coaches,” Fowles said in a news release. “Without them I would not be able to accomplish what I have on the court.” Chancellor previously earned Coach of the Year honors in 1987, 1990 and 1992 while coaching at Ole Miss. “I can’t take all the credit,” Chancellor said. “My assistant coaches and these players deserve the credit. They make the head coach look good.” SEC coaches unanimously selected Fowles to the All-SEC First Team. Tennessee’s Parker was the only other unanimous selection. Senior guard Quianna Chaney, who averages 14.9 points per game, was also named to the first team. Sophomore guard Allison Hightower tied Vanderbilt’s Jessica Mooney for the Sixth Woman of the Year award. Hightower averages 7.7 points per game off the bench. Senior guard Erica White was named to the All-SEC Second Team. White averages 7.1 points and 4.3 assists per game.
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