MOREHEAD, Ky.— Morehead State senior guard Chynna Bozeman repeated as the Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball Player of the Year and was also tabbed First-Team All-OVC, while sophomore Ashar Harris was named Second-Team All-OVC. The league announced the postseason awards Tuesday.
Bozeman is now the seventh player in league history to win multiple Player of the Year honors. As the OVC Tournament begins, she leads the league in scoring (20.8 ppg), steals (3.1 spg), and three-pointers made per game (3.1). She ranks second in free throw percentage (.844) and eighth in assists (3.5) and assist/turnover ratio (0.8). Bozeman has 15 20-point games, including five 30-point games.
“Chynna Bozeman being named Player of the Year and First-Team All-OVC in our conference are true testaments to the outstanding young woman that Chynna is. These awards add to a continued growing list of accomplishments that Chynna has brought to Morehead State,” said coach Tom Hodges. “Chynna put up outstanding numbers and gave outstanding effort on a daily basis in order to receive these distinguished honors. We are very proud of Chynna and the magnificent regular season that she had. Chynna’s leadership and poise have made her as complete a player as I have ever been fortunate enough to coach.”
She broke the MSU career scoring record at Murray State Feb. 24, surpassing the previous mark of 2,059 points held by Donna Murphy. She also is tied with Murphy for the most 30-point games in school history with eight. Bozeman ranks sixth on the NCAA Division I career list for three-pointers made with 363 and is third in three-pointers attempted in NCAA Division I history with 1,057. She is the OVC active career leader in points, assists, steals and three-pointers made.
Harris led the league in rebounding from wire-to-wire, averaging 12.4 per game currently and 13.0 in OVC contests. She ranks third in the nation in Division I in rebounding and ranks second among all Division I players with 20 double-doubles. Harris also ranks second in the OVC and 20th nationally with a .549 field goal percentage. She averages 14.3 points and has reached double figures 23 times.
“Ashar’s representation on the All-OVC team is a direct testament to her work ethic and desire while playing the game of basketball. Ashar is among the nation’s elite when it comes to rebounding and board work,” said Hodges. “We are very excited that Ashar was given the honor and recognition that goes along with being such an outstanding player."
UT Martin’s Heather Butler was the Freshman of the Year, Tennessee Tech’s Taccarra Hayes and UT Martin’s Jasmine Newsome shared the Defensive Player of the Year honor. Tennessee Tech first-year coach Sytia Messer, who led her team to the regular season title, was the OVC Coach of the Year.
“Anytime I see our players make the all-conference team, I am happy and elated. You always have someone left off the team you think maybe deserves it, but the coaches and media have not been with your team all season to see the effort that has been put in,” said Hodges. “I am very proud of our two selections and the representation of Morehead State within the OVC.”
