UNCASVILLE, Conn. (UCFKnights.com) - Outstanding performances throughout the 2019-20 American Athletic Conference season led two members of the UCF women's basketball team to all-conference recognition. Kay Kay Wright was a unanimous First Team selection and Brittney Smith earned Third Team All-Conference honors.
The Orlando duo extended UCF's streak of multiple honorees on The American's regular season awards list to four consecutive years.
"We are very excited that the coaches in the league have recognized Kay Kay and Brittney on the all-conference teams," UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said.
Wright became the first Knight in program history to earn back-to-back first team honors in The American and the first since Celeste Hudson (ASUN 2003-05) to repeat as a first team member.
"What an honor that Kay Kay was unanimously voted first team," Coach "ABE" said. "Kay Kay has led our team all season. Not only has she been a great scorer for our program, she has also led us in assists and steals throughout the year."
In the victory over Wichita State to close out the regular season, Wright scored a career-high 37 points - the second most points scored by an American Athletic Conference member this season. She moved into sole possession of third on UCF's career scoring list with 1,588 points. In 16 league games, Wright tallied 14 double-digit performances, with eight games of 20 points or more.
Wright, who ranks second at UCF in career assists with 492, set a career high with 12 assists in UCF's win over Memphis on Jan. 25. She also tallied the third double-double of her career as she scored 21 points in the victory.
The senior point guard finished league play ranked in the top 10 in six different statistical categories. She led the league at the free throw line, shooting 90.9 percent. Wright was also second in scoring (19.4), sixth in assists (4.2), tied for sixth in steals (2.1), eighth in assist-turnover ratio (1.3) and ninth in field goal percentage (42.3).
Smith, who earned the first conference accolade of her career, stepped up offensively for the Knights this season to finish as the team's second-leading scorer. She averaged 11.7 points per game in league play.
"We're extremely excited about Brittney being honor on the third team," Coach "ABE" said. " Brittney has really developed as a dominant post in the paint for our program."
The forward entered her sophomore season having never reached double-figures in her career. Smith had 15 double-digit performances this season, with 10 of those coming during league play. She opened conference play with a career-high 21-point performance in a victory over ECU on Jan. 5. Smith added a second 20-point performance in the Jan. 22 contest at Tulane.
Making one of the largest jumps among conference players, Smith's numbers in nearly every statistical category improved this season. She ranked 14th in offensive rebounding (2.3), 15th in free throw percentage (68.5), 19th in scoring (11.7) and tied for 19th in rebounding (5.4). She was also among the top five in field goal percentage throughout league play, hitting 50.3 percent of her shots during the 16-game league slate.
UCF (19-9, 11-5 The American) matched its best finish in The American, earning the No. 2 spot in this weekend's tournament.
The second-seeded Knights earned a bye for the fourth consecutive year and will play at 6 p.m. on March 7 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. UCF will face the winner of No. 7 Wichita State and No. 10 Houston in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Championship. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
2020 American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Awards
Player of the Year
Megan Walker, Jr., F, UConn
Freshman of the Year
Elena Tsineke, Fr., G, USF
Coach of the Year
Geno Auriemma, UConn
Defensive Player of the Year
Lashonda Monk, Jr., G, ECU
Newcomer of the Year
Ashley Jones, R-So., G, Temple
Most Improved Player of the Year
Angel Rizor, Sr., F, Cincinnati
Sixth Player of the Year
Dynah Jones, So., G, Tulane
Ambassador Award
Sierra Cheatham, Jr., G, Tulane
First Team All-Conference
Kay Kay Wright, Sr., G, UCF*
IImar'I Thomas, Jr., F, Cincinnati*
Crystal Dangerfield, Sr., G, UConn*
Megan Walker, Jr., F, UConn*
Christyn Williams, So., G, UConn
Mia Davis, Jr., F, Temple
Second Team All-Conference
Antoinette Miller, Sr., G, Cincinnati
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, So., F, UConn
Lashonda Monk, Jr., G, ECU
Ashley Jones, R-So., G, Temple
Krystal Freeman, Jr., F, Tulane
Third Team All-Conference
Angel Rizor, Sr., F, Cincinnati
Brittney Smith, So., F, UCF
Elisa Pinzan, So., G, USF
Elena Tsineke, Fr., G, USF
Mariah McCully, Jr., G, Wichita State
All-Freshman Team
Anna Makurat, Fr., G, UConn*
Taniyah Thompson, Fr., G, ECU*
Madison Griggs, Fr., G, Memphis*
Elena Tsineke, Fr., G, USF*
Reagan Bradley, Fr., G, SMU
Asonah Alexander, Fr., G, Temple
*denotes unanimous selection
