Boston, Cooke, Henderson Collect National Honors
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball junior Aliyah Boston continues to collect national recognition for her efforts on the court and, today, in the classroom. The Gamecocks’ starting forward was named CoSIDA Women’s Basketball Academic All-America of the Year and an Associated Press First-Team All-American by unanimous vote, earning both awards for the second time in as many seasons. Senior Destanni Henderson and junior Zia Cooke grabbed AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition as well.
In the classroom, Boston is a mass communications major with a 3.74 grade point average. Her selection marks just the fifth time that CoSIDA has had a repeat winner in the history of that women’s basketball award. Last season, Boston became the first in South Carolina women’s basketball history to earn that title and just the second Gamecock in any sport to be Academic All-America of the Year (LB Dantzler, baseball, 2013).
On the court, the three-time All-American’s SEC-record streak of 24 consecutive double-doubles is the longest active streak in the nation, and that consistent excellence has made her a mainstay on National Player of the Year watch lists throughout the season. Boston earned her first SEC Player of the Year award this season and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career as well. She is the top scorer (16.8 ppg) and rebounder (12.0 ppg) on the team and ranks among the NCAA’s top 10 in double-doubles (2nd, 25), rebounds per game (7th) and blocks per game (10th, 2.65 bpg). According to Her Hoop Stats, Boston leads the nation in win shares and player efficiency rating – both metrics that take into account both the offensive and defensive impact on the game.
Henderson was an All-SEC First-Team selection and is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award as well. In addition to her 11.3 points per game, she is among the SEC leaders in assists per game (4.3) and is fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.00). She has scored in double figures 15 times in her 28 games this season and handed out five or more assists 14 times. Henderson is also the team’s most consistent 3-point shooter, hitting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc this season.
An All-SEC Second-Team selection, Cooke’s 11.2 points per game are third-most on the team and have come via 20 double-figure scoring games in her 30 outings this season. Her numbers increased in SEC action to 11.5 points per game and yet again against ranked opponents to 13.4 points per game. She reached the 1,000 career points mark this season with a team-high 20 points against No. 8/7 Maryland, and she turned in 20-point outings against No. 9/9 Oregon and Auburn this season as well.
No. 1/1 South Carolina enters this week’s NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the top seed in the Greensboro Region. The Gamecocks are hosting games the opening weekend of the tournament, playing the winner of the First Four game between Howard and Incarnate Word on Fri., Mar. 18, at 2 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on the women’s basketball season.
.
2022 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team
In the classroom, Boston is a mass communications major with a 3.74 grade point average. Her selection marks just the fifth time that CoSIDA has had a repeat winner in the history of that women’s basketball award. Last season, Boston became the first in South Carolina women’s basketball history to earn that title and just the second Gamecock in any sport to be Academic All-America of the Year (LB Dantzler, baseball, 2013).
On the court, the three-time All-American’s SEC-record streak of 24 consecutive double-doubles is the longest active streak in the nation, and that consistent excellence has made her a mainstay on National Player of the Year watch lists throughout the season. Boston earned her first SEC Player of the Year award this season and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career as well. She is the top scorer (16.8 ppg) and rebounder (12.0 ppg) on the team and ranks among the NCAA’s top 10 in double-doubles (2nd, 25), rebounds per game (7th) and blocks per game (10th, 2.65 bpg). According to Her Hoop Stats, Boston leads the nation in win shares and player efficiency rating – both metrics that take into account both the offensive and defensive impact on the game.
Henderson was an All-SEC First-Team selection and is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award as well. In addition to her 11.3 points per game, she is among the SEC leaders in assists per game (4.3) and is fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.00). She has scored in double figures 15 times in her 28 games this season and handed out five or more assists 14 times. Henderson is also the team’s most consistent 3-point shooter, hitting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc this season.
An All-SEC Second-Team selection, Cooke’s 11.2 points per game are third-most on the team and have come via 20 double-figure scoring games in her 30 outings this season. Her numbers increased in SEC action to 11.5 points per game and yet again against ranked opponents to 13.4 points per game. She reached the 1,000 career points mark this season with a team-high 20 points against No. 8/7 Maryland, and she turned in 20-point outings against No. 9/9 Oregon and Auburn this season as well.
No. 1/1 South Carolina enters this week’s NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the top seed in the Greensboro Region. The Gamecocks are hosting games the opening weekend of the tournament, playing the winner of the First Four game between Howard and Incarnate Word on Fri., Mar. 18, at 2 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on the women’s basketball season.
.
2022 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Lexie Hull, Stanford
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Sam Thomas, Arizona
2022 AP All-America First Team
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Haley Jones, Stanford
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
