ATLANTA, GA-- After a successful 2023-24 season with the Panthers,
Crystal Henderson and
Mikyla Tolivert earned post-season honors, the Sun Belt announced Monday.
Standout freshman
Crystal Henderson is Freshman Player of the Year after leading all Sun Belt Freshmen in scoring (11.4 ppg), steals (1.76) and assists (4.4), which ranks fifth among all freshmen in the NCAA. Henderson also finished the regular season ranking top five among all freshmen in rebounds (2.7 rpg), and ranks top five in the conference for assists per game and assist/turnover ratio (+1.54). The Marietta, Ga., native started in every contest at point guard and notched three 20-point games, including a career-high 24 points in the conference opener against Troy and a 20 point, five 3-pointer and five assist contest in the Panthers' Power Five win at Clemson.
Henderson's award marks the third time in program history that the Panthers have earned freshman Sun Belt honors. She follows Jada Lewis, who won Sun Belt Freshman of the year in the 2016-17 season. Georgia State also won the award during the 2015-16 season.
Junior guard
Mikyla Tolivert was named to the All-Sun Belt third team after leading the Panthers in in scoring (14.1), 3-point percentage (.353) and steals per game (1.96), which ranks fifth in the Sun Belt. Tolivert finished the regular season in the top ten in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (+1.52), free-throw percentage (79.5) and assists per-game (3.5). The Melbourne, Fla., native notched a double-double with a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds and sunk a career-high five 3-pointers to lead the Panthers to an overtime win over second place Troy, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime. She recorded four 20+ point games, including a 23-point game at Georgia Tech and a 26-point game at Southern Miss.
Tolivert's all-conference honors marks the fifth in program history, following Taylor Hosendove's third team honors during the 2020-21 season.
Henderson, Tolivert and the Panthers' squad continue play in the Sun Belt Conference Championship on March 6 at 11:30 a.m. as they face ninth place App State.
