Simpson Named SMU Women’s Basketball MVP

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DALLAS (SMU) – Sophomore Akil Simpson was named the team’s Most Valuable Player by the coaches at the SMU women’s basketball program’s annual awards banquet after leading the team with 10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The Duncanville, Texas native was third in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 52.4 percent. She had nine double-doubles during her second season on the Hilltop, and scored a career-high 25 points at Tulane. She was named Second Team All-Conference USA, and was twice named C-USA Player of the Week.

The coaching staff also recognized junior Alisha Filmore as the Top Defender. The Mansfield, Texas native and C-USA All-Defensive Team nominee forced 44 steals as a guard. She was also second on the team, averaging 10.2 points per game, and led the conference, shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point range. The guard scored a career-high 29 points against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Samantha Mahnesmith earned the Hustle Award. The senior from Kennedale, Texas averaged 8.7 points per game and had 42 steals. Defensively, Mahnesmith was regularly matched up against the opposing team’s top guard. She led the team with 41 3-point field goals, and shot over 70 percent from the free throw line.

Freshman Destynee Hives-McCray was honored as the Most Improved Player. The Arlington native averaged 2.1 points, shooting 34.5 percent from the field, and grabbed 2.1 rebounds per game in 7.8 minutes. She posted a season-high nine points and grabbed seven rebounds twice.