Before my awards picks, I'll review a couple of other awards.  The final Player of the Week went to Sam Breen, her third this season.  Laura Ziegler won her 8th Rookie of the week.  Brooke Flowers was named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semi-Finalist.  This is not a mid major -award.  The other 9 semi-finalists are all from Power 6 schools.  I include the 5 major football conferences and the Big East.

As a sports columnist used to write, many decades ago.  Nobody asked me but. ... 

I wanted to take a crack at picking awards before the A10 announces them.  This is just one man's opinion.  With all my biases.  Feel free to disagree.  There were couple of difficult facts that made choices more problematic.  Rhode Island is a co-champ, but none of its players were in the top 25 in minutes.  Madison Hattix-Covington had the highest average minutes at 28.2, while Maye Toure played an average of 26.6 minutes.  What to do with Fordham's dynamic guards, so close  stat-wise but different players?  (I put them on different teams.).   I tried to get at least one player from each of the top teams down but missed George Mason.  Davidson placed one also.  I would have picked Sara Te-Bisau of VCU until she got hert and only played 19 games.  I also struggled about how many UMass and GW players made all conference teams, so I leaned in their favor.

I believe I ended up with 13 of the 18 on the presason all-conference teams.  My head is exploding comparing statistics, so I will try to limit them,

PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Sam Breen, UMass.  Third in scoring in the conference.  First in rebounds.  Eleventh in assists and steals.  First in minutes.  Sixteen double/doubles with one of them a triple/double.  She has been one of the most consistent stars in the conference.  Team leader.

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE -  Breen; Brook Flowers, St Louis'; Maye Toure, Rhode Island; Megan McConnell, Duquense; Asaih Dingle Fordham; Elle Sutphin, Davidson.    

Flowers had the best defender in the onferernce, and her scoring numbers increased as the season went on.  Toure was the best player for URI and a key to their dominance.  She was held to 11 points total in 2 late losses, which dropped her out of POY contention.  McConnell is not a great scorer  but lead in assists and was second in rebounds, Excellent defender.  Dingle led the conference in scoring and most of her statistics were just a bit better than her teammate DeWolfe.  Sutphin is an excellent scorer and rebounder.

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE - Anna DeWolfe, Fordham; Sydney Taylor, UMass; Mayowa Taiwo, GW; Talya Brugler, St Joseph's; Kyla McMakin, St Louis;  Claire Jacobs, LaSalle.    

Taiwo might have made first team if she had been more productive offensively all season.  Taylor and McMakin can light up a scoreboard, but had a few too many off nights for first team status.

Third Team All-Conference - Madison Hattie-Covington, Rhode Island;  Addie Budnik, Richmond;  Destiny Philoxy, UMass; Ber'Nyah Mayo UMass; Mia Lakstigala, GW; McKenzie Smith, St Joseph's

I know, an overload of Minutewomen but both third teasers deserve recognition.  Hattix-Covington is the steadiest and second best player on the co-champs.

HONORABLE MENTION - Taylor Jameson, George Mason; Kayla Spruill, LaSalle; Julia Martinez, St Louis.  A lot of point guards worthy of mention including Molly Mascantnio, LaSalle (of the national leading 4.7/1 assist/turnover ratio), Katie Jekot, St Joseph's; Sayimi Lassiter, Rhode Island, Grace Townsend, Richmond.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Brooke Flowers, St Louis.  Looking to be a good bet to lead nation in blocks per games.  

DEFENSIVE ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM - Flowers; Julia Martinez, St Louis, Megan McConnell, Duquense; Asiah Dingle, Fordham; Ber’Nyah Mayo, UMass, I'lyanna Lops. St Bonaventure.    Hated to leave off Taowo and Philoxy  Conference may only pick 5 players.  

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Laura Ziegler, St Joseph's.  I really wanted to pick Nya Robertson but after 8 POWs for Ziegler, she's a lock for the award.

ALL ROOKIE TEAM - Zielgler; Nya Robertson, GW;  Maggie Doogan, Richmond, Nalani Kaysia, George Mason (not bad for the senior who played 3 years of volleyball at Charlotte); Mia Nicastro, St Louis

SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Sophie Phillips, Rhode Island.  Hard to choose this since I don't really know everybody who's eligible, based one the number of games they started.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Co) - Toure/Phillips.  Might as well let the teammates share it,

Just my judgments  and I'd be pleased to hear disagreements.. Hope I'd didn't leave anyone worthy off.   Be kind.  Try to not call me an evil pant load.