Shadeen Samuels Named BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year

Tune in to BIG EAST Shootaround at BIG EAST Media Day Thursday at 12:25 p.m.

NEW YORK – Seton Hall senior Shadeen Samuels (Ossining, N.Y.) was named 2019-20 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, while teammate Desiree Elmore (Hartford, Conn.) earned All-BIG EAST Team status. As a team, the Pirates were predicted to finish third in the Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Samuels had a breakout junior season for The Hall, winning the BIG EAST scoring title by averaging 20.2 points per game over her 17 league contests. The 6'0" forward added 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game during BIG EAST action. She shot 54.5 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from 3-point range, also connecting at a 76.7 percent clip from the free throw line. Samuels finished in the BIG EAST top-10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and minutes played.

In addition to being named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, she was also honored with the conference's Most Improved Player award thanks to an 11.7 point per game spike in conference scoring. Samuels also increased her rebounding by 1.3 per game, assists by 1.0 per game and field goal percentage by 8.8 percent.

The only other BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year in Seton Hall history was Geraldine Saintilus in 1988. With Myles Powell tabbed the BIG EAST Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, Seton Hall is the first school since Connecticut in 2003 (Emeka Okafor, Diana Taurasi) to sweep both men's and women's preseason major awards.

Elmore, a former transfer from Syracuse, was an immediate factor for Seton Hall last season. Appearing in 29 games, she led all BIG EAST primary subs with 10.3 points per game and finished in the top-5 with a 54.5 field goal percentage. Elmore scored in double-figures 14 times and had three games of at least 20 points. A versatile talent at either guard or forward, she also grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game. She expects to be a regular starter this season.

Seton Hall is predicted to finish third this season according to the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending champion DePaul was tabbed as the favorite to repeat, while St. John's was picked to finish second. It's the highest Seton Hall has been picked in the seven years under head coach Anthony Bozzella.

BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. DePaul (9)	81
2. St. John's (1)	70
3. SETON HALL	58
4. Creighton	50
5. Providence	44
Villanova	44
7. Butler	43
8. Xavier	23
9. Marquette	19
10. Georgetown	18

BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
SHADEEN SAMUELS, SETON HALL, SR., F

BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Freshman of the Year
Jordan King, Marquette, Fr., G

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Kristen Spolyar, Butler, Sr., G
Jaylyn Agnew, Creighton, Sr., F
Chante Stonewall, DePaul, Sr., F
Kelly Campbell, DePaul, Sr., G
Selena Lott, Marquette, Jr., G
Mary Baskerville, Providence, So., F*
Tiana England, St. John's, R-Jr., G*
Qadashah Hoppie, St. John's, Jr., G
DESIREE ELMORE, SETON HALL, JR., G/F
Mary Gedaka, Villanova, Sr., F*
A'riana Gray, Xavier, Jr., F*

^extra player added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection

Scoreboard

Shadeen Samuels Named BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year

Related News

Players Mentioned

Desiree Elmore

Shadeen Samuels

Related Videos

Seton Hall University Athletics

Sponsors Slider