Women's Basketball

2016-17 All-PacWest Women’s Basketball Team

2016-17 All-PacWest Women's Basketball Team

IRVINE, Calif. – California Baptist’s Cassidy Mihalko and Kamille Diaz highlighted the 2016-17 All-PacWest Women’s Basketball team, released by the league office Wednesday. Mihalko and Diaz both earned their fourth-career All-PacWest honors, and Mihalko was named PacWest Player of the Year.
 
Mihalko became the first Lancers to win PacWest Player of the Year, ranking second in the conference in scoring (20.0), first in points (600), field goal percentage (.560) and free throw percentage (.855), 11th in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and third in steals (67). She is 13th in the nation in scoring and eighth in field goals (220). A four-time PacWest Player of the Week, she eclipsed 20 points in 16 games this season. She netted a career-high 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting, and had 11 rebounds, against Cal State East Bay. She had another double-double two games later against Saint Martin’s with 27 points and 18 rebounds. She scored 25 points against Hawai’i Hilo to surpass 2,000 for her career and is currently second in PacWest history with 2.097.
 
Sandra Ikeora (Dominican) was named PacWest Defender of the Year. She was the top rebounder in the nation, leading Division II in total rebounds (347) and rebounding average (12.9 rpg) and ranking sixth in defensive rebounds (8.3 rpg). She also led the PacWest (third in NCAA) in scoring (22.2 ppg) and ranked third in blocks (42) and fifth in steals (62). She recorded 19 double-doubles in 27 games, the most in the nation. She had 25 rebounds against Cal State Monterey Bay, a Dominican DII record, and added five blocks and three steals. She recorded a career-high seven steals against Dixie State.
 
Marissa Caballero (Notre Dame de Namur) was named PacWest Newcomer of the Year. In her first year in the PacWest from Columbia Basin College, Caballero ranked fourth in the conference in scoring and eighth in assists (3.4 apg). She was also third in the conference in free throw percentage (.839) and free throws made (143). She scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and had three steals at Concordia. Caballero is the second NDNU player to be named Newcomer of the Year (Laura Zasly, 2009-10).
 
Destiny Castro (Chaminade) was named PacWest Freshman of the Year, the first Chaminade women’s basketball player to win an individual award. A five-time PacWest Freshman of the Week, she led PacWest freshmen in scoring (11.0 ppg). She also averaged 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.0 assists per game. She had consecutive double-doubles against Holy Names (17 pts, 12 reb) and Concordia (11 pts, 10 reb).
 
Jarrod Olson (California Baptist) was named PacWest Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive season. CBU defended its PacWest regular season title with a 20-0 record, a conference record for wins and only the second undefeated season ever. The Lancers began the season ranked No. 2 in the WBCA Coaches’ Poll, stayed in the top-10 the majority of the season, and enter the PacWest Championship a No. 3 in the nation.
 
Mihalko and Diaz were both repeat first-team All-PacWest selections. They were joined on the first team by Ikeora, Alex Brunk (Point Loma), Breanna Mackenzie (Hawai’i Pacific) and Rodericka Ware (Academy of Art).