28 February 2024 | Uncategorized

The regular season champion Vanguard women's basketball team collected more hardware on Wednesday as the Golden State Athletic Conference coaches named Uganda's Melissa Akullu as Player of the Year.

Akullu is the third player in program history to repeat as GSAC Player of the Year and also becomes just the fifth player at VU to capture All-GSAC honours three times in a career.

The Gazelles centre dominated in every facet, leading the conference in scoring (24.4 ppg), rebounding (13.7 RPG), field goal percentage (.624) and steals (3.3 spg). Nationally, she ranks sixth in scoring, third in rebounding, eighth in field goal percentage and fifth in steals.

She finished the regular season with 19 double-doubles, including a stretch of 14 straight games. Facing consistent double teams, Akullu scored 20 or more points 17 times and surpassed the 30-point mark on seven occasions. She was unstoppable on January 15 at Bethesda with a career-high 41 points to go along with 14 rebounds and eight steals.

Akullu made 10 or more field goals in 13 contests, including a 13-of-23 effort in a 65-64 win over The Masters. She finished that game with 30 points, 17 boards and four steals.

The three-time All-GSAC performer landed on the VU single-season list in several categories, including 11th in points (562), first in scoring average, eighth in field goals made (232), first in field goal percentage, fifth in total rebounds (315), first in rebounds per game, 10th in steals (75) and tied for fourth in steals per game (3.3).

She also captured two NAIA National Player of the Week awards and three GSAC Player of the Week accolades this season.

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