DENVER – University of Denver senior forward
Makayla Minett has been named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday in a vote of the head coaches, sports information directors and select media.
The Chicago native is Denver's first player of the year in the Summit League since
Claire Gritt was named the Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2018. Minett is also the first player of the year not restricted by eligibility season since
Misa Pavlickova was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2001.
Minett and freshman guard
Emma Smith were both also named Summit League Honorable Mention for their overall success in league games this year. Smith was also named to the 2023 All-Newcomer Team.
Smith and Minett were the 10
th and 11
th Summit League Honorable Mention selections since the program joined the league in 2013-14, and became the 22
nd and 23
rd student-athletes in the program's Division I history to earn an All-League honor.
Minett entered the week ninth in the country in both blocks (72) and blocks per game (2.48). The Denver forward's 10 blocks in the first of two meetings against Kansas City this season ties for second in the NCAA in most blocks in a single game in 2022-23. In that contest, Minett became the second Pioneer to record a blocks and rebounds double-double, and currently ranks 47
th in the country and second in the Summit League in rebounds per game at 9.1.
Smith has finished in double figures a team-high 19 times this season, and has had three 20+ point games in her last four contests. The freshman sharp-shooter is averaging 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Earlier this season, Smith became the first DI Pioneer freshman to score in double figures in her first seven collegiate games.
2022-23 Summit League Women's Basketball Awards
Honorable Mention All-Summit League
Makayla Minett, Denver (Sr., F)
Emma Smith, Denver (Fr., G)
All-Defensive Team
Makayla Minett, Denver (Sr., F)
All-Newcomer Team
Emma Smith, Denver (Fr., G)
Defensive Player of the Year
Makayla Minett, Denver
Denver's Conference Award History
2023
Makayla Minett – Summit League Defensive Player of the Year
Makayla Minett – Summit League All-Defensive Team
Makayla Minett – Summit League Honorable Mention
Emma Smith – Summit League All-Newcomer Team
Emma Smith – Summit League Honorable Mention
2022
Uju Ezeudu – Summit League Second Team
2021
Uju Ezeudu – Summit League Second Team
Meghan Boyd – Summit League Honorable Mention
2020
Madison Nelson – Summit League First Team
Lauren Loven – Summit League Second Team
2019
Madison Nelson – Summit League Second Team
Lauren Loven – Summit League Honorable Mention
Samantha Romanowski – Summit League Honorable Mention
2018
Claire Gritt – Summit League Freshman of the Year
Claire Gritt – Summit League All-Newcomer Team
Claire Gritt – Summit League Honorable Mention
Jordyn Alt – Summit League Honorable Mention
2017
None
2016
Paige Bradley – Summit League Honorable Mention
2015
Paige Bradley – Summit League Honorable Mention
2014
Paige Bradley – Summit League Honorable Mention
Theresa Wirth - Summit League Honorable Mention
2013
Emiko Smith – Western Athletic Conference Second Team
Maiya Michel – Western Athletic Conference All-Defensive Team
Kailey Edwards – Western Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team
2012
Kaetlyn Murdoch – Sun Belt Conference First Team
Emiko Smith – Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2011
Kaetlyn Murdoch – Sun Belt Conference First Team
Britteni Rice– Sun Belt Conference Second Team
Brianna Culberson – Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2010
Kaetlyn Murdoch – Sun Belt Conference First Team
Britteni Rice– Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2009
Kaetlyn Murdoch – Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
2008
None
2007
Tyesha Lowery – Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2006
Venice Adams – Sun Belt Conference Third Team
2005
None
2004
None
2003
Ashley Atkinson – Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
2002
Nikki Weddle – Sun Belt Conference All-League Team
Melissa Garcia – Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
2001
Pam Turner – Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year
Misa Pavlickova – Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
Nikki Weddle – Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year
Misa Pavlickova – Sun Belt Conference All-League Team
2000
Pam Turner – Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year
Misa Pavlickova – Sun Belt Conference All-League Team
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