Wakefield Receives Top Nod, a First for the COC Women’s Basketball Program

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – College of the Canyons women's basketball player Ashley Wakefield was named California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCWBCA) Co-Player of the Year for her efforts during the 2009-2010 season. Wakefield is the first COC women's basketball player ever to receive the state's top honor. She shares the honor with Fresno City College's Sumiya Darden.

"It is a tremendous honor for Ashley to receive this recognition from the California Community College Women's Coaches Association," said College of the Canyons head coach Greg Herrick. "She is certainly deserving of the award, and we are very proud of her accomplishments as a player, her contributions to the program and her commitment to her teammates."

Wakefield averaged 18.6 ppg, 12.9 rpg and 2.7 spg during the 2009-2010 campaign. The Washington Prep of Los Angeles alum also recorded her first collegiate triple-double with 15 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists against Bakersfield College on Jan. 13, while collecting 22 double-doubles in the Cougars' 27-game season.

The honor comes on the heels of her 2010 Western State Conference, South Division, Most Valuable Player award and her all-conference awards in 2009 and 2010.

She will receive her award at the CCCWBCA Banquet of Champions on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel in Westlake Village, Calif.

"Historically, our program has been fortunate to produce some of the finest community college players in the state, but none have ever been recognized as the state's very best," Herrick said. "We are pleased to have been a part of Ashley's development, and we wish her the very best as she embarks on a new career at the next level."

College of the Canyons finished the 2009-2010 season with a 22-5 record and 12-0 conference mark on the way to its 12th conference title.