Mathews Named Conference Player of the Year, Kolani Earns First-Team All-Conference
College of the Canyons sophomore guard Keiona Mathews was named the Western State Conference, North Division, Player of the Year and sophomore guard Shawn Kolani garnered first-team all-conference honors, as voted on by the conference coaches.
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – College of the Canyons sophomore guard Keiona Mathews was named the Western State Conference, North Division, Player of the Year and sophomore guard Shawn Kolani garnered first-team all-conference honors, as voted on by the conference coaches.
"Conference MVP Keiona Mathews had one of the greatest seasons ever for a COC player," COC head women's basketball coach Greg Herrick said. "Her scoring average and rebounding in WSC play validated her MVP status as the best player in the conference. Mathews was as consistent a performer as I have ever coached. Her contributions were almost taken for granted because they happened almost every night."
Mathews is the ninth player in program history to win the conference MVP award. She led the conference in scoring with 31.1 ppg and was fourth in rebounding, pulling down 11.2 rpg. She scored 40 or more points in three games, including a 47-point performance against Moorpark (Feb. 12, 2014). The guard scored at least 25 points during the 12-game conference season, except against Ventura College (Feb. 19, 2014), when she was held to 19 points. The Antelope Valley High School graduate also had six double-doubles during conference games and grabbed a season-high 22 rebounds at Allan Hancock (Jan. 29, 2014).
Kolani was the top point guard in the Western State Conference, North Division, dishing out 8.2 apg during the 2013-14 campaign and was second during the 12-game conference span with 8.7 apg. The Taft High School alum also ranked sixth in the WSC in shooting, averaging 18.9 ppg and seventh for her 41.3 percent shooting from behind the 3-point line.
"Kolani had another outstanding season for the Cougars," Herrick said. "She led the conference in assists and contributed 18.9 ppg during WSC competition. It's going to be very difficult replacing her next season."
The honors were the second conference awards for both players, as they were named first-team all-conference in 2013.