ORLANDO - Two Knights were tabbed to the Big 12 conference season awards as announced by the league Tuesday afternoon. Emely Rodriguez and Kaitlin Peterson garnered All-Big 12 Freshman Team and Big 12 Honorable Mention, respectively.
Rodriguez was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team, marking the first UCF freshman to be recognized to the team since its inaugural Big 12 season.
Despite missing a five-game stretch midseason due to injury, the freshman guard was second on the squad for points scored in regular season play tallying up 265 with an average of 11.5 per game. The Dominican Republic native posted double-digit scoring in 14 games this season, including a career-high 21-point game against Iowa State.
The freshman also recorded the highest free throw percentage on the team, shooting just over 75% from behind the line. In her 23 games this season, Rodriguez tallied 119 rebounds, 11 blocks and 29 assists, while snagging 31 steals, the second most on the team.
Peterson was tabbed with an honorable mention by the conference as she concluded her senior season at UCF. Peterson led the Knights in scoring for the second consecutive season with 501 points, averaging 20.9 points per game. The 2024-25 season also checks the second consecutive season Peterson has recorded 500-plus points and averaged over 20 a game.
Peterson scored double-digits in 21 of the 24 games she played this season, recording double-digit scoring in 15 conference games. A season stand-out player, Peterson recorded both a career-high and a season-high for the conference against Texas Southern where she knocked down 39 points and drained six threes.
The senior led the Knights in steals this season, scooping up 49. Additionally, Peterson recorded 48 assists, 49 rebounds, and 44 shots from beyond the arc. The Eufaula, Alabama, native was second in scoring overall for the entire Big 12 this season, behind Iowa State sophomore Audi Crooks.
The full listing of award winners can be found below.
2025 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 WBB Yearly Award Winners
Player of the Year: Hailey Van Lith, TCU, G, Gr.
Freshman of the Year: Delaney Gibb, BYU, G*
Newcomer of the Year: Hailey Van Lith, TCU, G, Gr.
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Quinerly, West Virginia, G, Sr.
Sixth Player of the Year: Yaya Felder, Baylor, G, Sr.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Gianna Kneepkens, Utah, G, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Mark Campbell, TCU
All-Big 12 First Team
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor, G, Jr.
Audi Crooks, Iowa State, C, So.*
S’Mya Nichols, Kansas, G, So.
Serena Sundell, K-State, G, Sr.
Stailee Heard, Oklahoma State, G, So.
Madison Conner, TCU, G, Sr.
Sedona Prince, TCU, C, Gr.*
Hailey Van Lith, TCU, G, Gr. *
Gianna Kneepkens, Utah, G, Jr.
JJ Quinerly, West Virginia, G, Sr.*
All-Big 12 Second Team
Sarah Andrews, Baylor, G, Gr.
Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor, C, Sr.
Delaney Gibb, BYU, G, Fr.
Addy Brown, Iowa State, F, So.
Ayoka Lee, K-State, C, Gr.
All-Big 12 Third Team
Jillian Hayes, Cincinnati, F, 5th
Temira Poindexter, K-State, F, Sr.
Anna Gret Asi, Oklahoma State, G, Sr.
Jordan Harrison, West Virginia, G, Jr.
Mayè Tourè, Utah, F, Gr.
Honorable Mention: Arizona: Breya Cunningham; Arizona State: Jalyn Brown, Tyi Skinner; Baylor: Bella Fontleroy, Jada Walker; UCF: Kaitlin Peterson; Colorado: Frida Formann, Jade Masogayo; Iowa State: Emily Ryan; Kansas: Elle Evans; K-State: Jaelyn Glenn; Oklahoma State: Micah Gray; Texas Tech: Bailey Maupin, Jasmine Shavers; Utah: Kennady McQueen; West Virginia: Kyah Watson
All-Big 12 Freshman Team
Lauryn Swann, Arizona, G
Delaney Gibb, BYU, G*
Emely Rodriguez, UCF, G/F
Regan Williams, Kansas, F
Jadyn Wooten, Oklahoma State, G
All-Big 12 Defensive Team
Bella Fontleroy, Baylor, G/F, Jr.
Zyanna Walker, K-State, So.
Sedona Prince, TCU, C, Gr.*
JJ Quinerly, West Virginia, G, Sr.*
Kyah Watson, West Virginia, G, Sr.
Players are sorted in alphabetical order by school.
*Indicates unanimous selection.
The Black and Gold head to Kansas City, Mo. where they gear up to face BYU in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Championship. Tip-off is set for March 5 at noon in the T-Mobile Center.