Wofford sophomore guard Rachael Rose was named Southern Conference Player of the Year in women’s basketball Monday, giving the Scranton Prep graduate a major conference award in each of the first two years of her college career.
The four-time, all-state selection and two-time NEPABasketball.com selection as District 2 Player of the Year led Wofford to historic success in her first season with the team. Last season, Rose was the Big South Freshman of the Year while playing for the University of South Carolina Upstate.
A vote of league coaches made Rose the Player of the Year for her role in leading the Terriers to the first women’s team sport conference championship in school history. Wofford went 10-4 to finish first in the conference and land the top seed for the SoCon Tournament.
Wofford is 20-8 overall for its first 20-win season as a National Collegiate Athletic Association program.
Rose led the team in points (17.0 per game), rebounds (5.8) and assists (4.2). She was second in the conference in assists and third in scoring while leading in shooting percentage (5.12) and assist/turnover ratio (2.12). Rose was also third in the league in steals (1.8).
“I am thrilled for Rachael to be named SoCon Player of the Year,” Wofford’s Jimmy Garrity, who was named Coach of the Year, said, according to a story posted on the league website. “There are so many outstanding players in this league and to be recognized with this award is a testament to all the hard work she has put in to her craft. She has had a fantastic season.
“Rachael leads us in a lot of statistical categories and that has helped us win 20 games. She’s been great for this team, both on and off the court.”
Rose scored a career-high 32 points at Chattanooga, one of her nine games of at least 20 points. She is one game from the school record for consecutive games scoring in double figures at 15.
The SoCon Sports Media Association selected Samford’s Andrea Bailey as Player of the Year and had Rose as a first-team all-star.
