HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University junior guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas has racked up yet another award, having been named First Team All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID), as the University Division All-State teams were released on Wednesday.
The teams and awards were voted on by VaSID member institutions.
The two-time reigning MEAC Player of the Year, Tate-DeFreitas led the conference and ranked 16th in the nation in scoring, averaging 21.4 points per game. Her 2.6 steals per contest were second in the MEAC and 29th among Div. I players, and Tate-DeFreitas led the nation in minutes played.
She also tied for the team high with 7.2 rebounds per contest.
Tate-DeFreitas was seventh in the nation in field goal attempts (631) and 33rd in field goals made (233) this past season, and she had five 30-point games – including a season-high 37 at Howard on Feb. 8. She had six double-doubles on the season and one triple-double – a 13-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist effort on Jan. 9 against Bethune-Cookman.
A six-time MEAC Player of the Week this past season, and a Richmond Times-Dispatch First Team All-State selection, Tate-DeFreitas was also named to the MEAC’s All-Tournament Team, averaging 21.0 points during the tournament. She dropped 27 points in the MEAC Tournament semifinals against North Carolina A&T State, and over her last seven games, Tate-DeFreitas averaged 9.0 rebounds a game.
Tate-DeFreitas was also named BoxToRow’s National Player of the Year and was an HBCU Div. I First Team All-America selection.
James Madison swept the postseason awards; Jazzman Gwathmey was named VaSID Player of the Year, while Kenny Brooks and Kayla Cooper-Williams were named Coach and Rookie of the Year, respectively.