The University of Akron Athletics
King named Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year
March 10 | Women's Basketball
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MAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR RELEASE | MAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET (PDF) | TICKET INFORMATION (PDF) | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) joined some exclusive company in Akron women's basketball history with her selection on Tuesday, March 10, as the Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year.
King becomes only the second-ever Zip to garner the league's top honor joining former teammate Rachel Tecca, who won the award following the 2012-13 campaign.
"I think when someone individually wins an award like this it speaks more of the team," said King. "Coach Kest is always saying you don't get personal accolades without team success and I really feel that is true. With our 22 wins this season, which was an Akron regular season record, it really speaks highly for the team as well."
"I'm really happy for the team and for Sina on receiving this most prestigious award," Akron head coach Jodi Kest commented. "She's put a lot of hard work and dedication in the gym and I couldn't be more proud for her."
A first-team All-MAC honoree, King has started all 29 games for the Zips this season, registering team- and conference-best marks in scoring (20.3) and rebounding (9.3), en route to leading Akron to a school-record 22 regular-season victories.
She has scored in double figures in all 29 contests and owns a league-high 15 double-doubles, including eight in conference action.
King led the MAC in league-only games in scoring (20.7) and three-point percentage (.407), while rating second in rebounding (9.3) and sixth in field-goal percentage (.475).
Over her five-year Akron career, King has registered 1,593 points and 870 rebounds to become only the fourth player in program history to notch at least 1,500 points and 800 rebounds as a Zip. She joins Tecca (2009-14), Cheryl Bowles (1997-2001) and Pam Arnold (1984-88) in that exclusive club.
"Coming back from last year after missing the entire season it was always a goal to come back strong, so I'd like to thank Coach Kest, as she has been there every step of the way," King explained. "I'd also like to thank Coach Box (Glenn Box, current Saint Louis WBB assistant coach and former Akron assistant coach) for working me out each day last year when I couldn't practice with the team."
King enters tournament play rated third, fourth, fourth, sixth and sixth, respectively, in the career record book in free throws made (387), free throws attempted (485), rebounds (870), field-goal percentage (.470) and field goals made (561).
"I'd also like to thank my parents as they have been my biggest supporters this year and have kept me where I needed to be," said King. "Thank you as well to Jamie (Liles) and Mark (Lake) because they helped me out a lot and also my teammates, I wouldn't be there without them, and definitely the rest of the coaching staff. It is a big group like that makes something like this happen."
The Zips will open play at the MAC Tournament on Thursday, March 12, as the No. 3 seed. Akron will face the winner of Wednesday's game between Eastern Michigan and Toledo at approximately 2:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.
