UCSB’s Sweets Underwood
UC Santa Barbara senior forward Sweets Underwood was named First Team All-Big West and junior guard Nicole Nesbit earned honorable mention recognition, the league announced Monday.
Underwood is completing her finest season as a Gaucho. She enters Wednesday night’s Big West Tournament game with averages of 11.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories. In addition, she has a team-best 48.7% mark from the field and she is shooting 76.8% from the free throw line.
Underwood has played in and started all 30 games for UCSB, the only player on the team to do so. She has recorded 13 double-doubles on the season and she had a career-high 20 rebounds on Feb. 23 against Cal State Northridge. In Big West games, Underwood is averaging 12.3 points and 9.4 boards per game.
“It’s rewarding to have Sweets acknowledged by the Big West for her hard work, continued improvement and consistent play,” said head coach Carlene Mitchell. “She was the most improved player on our team in every facet of her game and this award is an indication that hard work does pay off.”
Nesbit finished the regular season averaging 10.6 points and a team-leading 3.0 assists per game. She is also second on the team with 16 three-point baskets.
“Nicole stepped-up to the challenge on a nightly basis to being the ultimate point guard for our program,” Mitchell said. “For her to receive respect by being voted all-conference speaks volumes to her skill-set and leadership ability.”
The fourth-seeded Gauchos will open Big West Conference Tournament play on Wednesday night at the Bren Events Center on the UC Irvine campus. The opponent will be determined when the 5-8 seeds play in Irvine on Tuesday night. UCSB will play the second game on Wednesday with tip-off scheduled at approximately 8:20 p.m.
ALL BIG WEST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2012-13
FIRST TEAM
Molly Schlemer, Cal Poly, Junior, Center, Santa Maria, Calif.
Sydnee Fipps, UC Davis, Sophomore, Forward, Mariposa, Calif.
Sweets Underwood, UC Santa Barbara, Senior, Forward, Compton, Calif.
Kamilah Martin, Hawai?i, Junior, Forward, Oakland, Calif.
Erica McKenzie, Pacific, Senior, Guard, Sparks, Nev.
Kendall Rodriguez, Pacific, Senior, Forward, La Habra, Calif.SECOND TEAM
Ashlee Guay, Cal State Northridge, Sophomore, Guard, San Diego, Calif.
Camille Buckley, UC Irvine, Junior, Forward, Ontario, Calif.
Tre?Shonti Nottingham, UC Riverside, Senior, Guard, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Gena Johnson, Pacific, Junior, Guard, Elk Grove, Calif.
Kendall Kenyon, Pacific, Sophomore, Forward, Stockton, Calif.HONORABLE MENTION
Ariana Elegado, Cal Poly, Sophomore, Guard, San Diego, Calif.
Jonae Ervin, Cal Poly, Senior, Guard, Brea, Calif.
Kayla Griffin, Cal Poly, Senior, Forward, Fremont, Calif.
Devin Hudson, Long Beach State, Sophomore, Center, Ontario, Calif.
Alex Sanchez, Long Beach State, Sophomore, Guard, Anaheim, Calif.
Cortney French, UC Davis, Senior, Guard, Stockton, Calif.
Brittany Crain, UC Riverside, Freshman, Guard, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Nicole Nesbit, UC Santa Barbara, Junior, Guard, Northridge, Calif.
Ashleigh Karaitiana, Hawai?i, Freshman, Guard, Sydney, Australia
Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Hawai?i, Junior, Guard, ?Aiea, O?ahu
Ashley Wakefield, Pacific, Senior, Guard, Santa Clarita, Calif.ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Annie Park, Cal State Fullerton, Freshman, Guard, Torrance, Calif.
Alyson Doherty, UC Davis, Freshman, Forward, Lake Forest, Calif.
Molly Greubel, UC Davis, Freshman, Guard, Santa Ana, Calif.
Brittany Crain, UC Riverside, Freshman, Guard, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Ashleigh Karaitiana, Hawai?i, Freshman, Guard, Sydney, Australia
