Third-year Axewomen guard Paloma Anderson was the choice for AUS women's basketball Player of the Year.
The 5'1” dynamo from Phoenix, AZ led the Acadia women to a 15-0 start to their regular season and a 16-4 record overall, good for second place in the conference standings.
In her second season with the Axewomen, Anderson started all 20 regular season games and led the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game, second in the AUBC.
She was also second in assists per game with 4.4, and was also among the league leaders in field goals, free throw percentage and steals.
In a Jan. 20 game against St. F.X. In Wolfville, she set a new school record with 41 points, and now sits sixth on the all-time list of AUS women's basketball single-game scorers.
Anderson is the first-ever Axewomen player to win the AUS Player of the Year award.
“We are very proud of Paloma's achievement,” Axewomen head coach Len Harvey said in a March 3 release. “It is something she has committed herself toward and worked hard for this season.”
Harvey added, “I think, above all else, as an undersized guard, being named MVP from among many deserving candidates is even more impressive.”
Anderson, he said, “has taken over games at times this season, and has been a fantastic 'finisher' in tight games. Everyone at Acadia is excited for her, and proud of her winning this well deserved award.”
As the conference MVP, Anderson goes into contention for the Nan Copp Award for the CIS Player of the Year.
The last AUS player to win the Copp Award was Justine Colley of Saint Mary's who won it in back-to-back seasons in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.
Anderson was also named a first-team all-star. Teammate Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.) was named to the second all-star team, and Kelsey Rice (Beaverbank, N.S.) made the All-Rookie team.
On the men's side, fifth-year Axemen guard Shaquille Smith is the latest Acadia student-athlete to win the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award for their sport.
The native of North Preston and graduate of Auburn Drive High School becomes the AUS nominee for the CIS Ken Shields Award.
Smith averaged 16.8 points per game for the Axemen this season, and was second in the conference in steals with 45. He was the engine that drove the Acadia offence all season.
He maintains a 3.3 Grade Point Average in the classroom, and is heavily involved in the local community, both at home and in and around Wolfville.
He volunteers with the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. Program, working with children with autism to develop motor, cognitive and social learning skills. In November, he was named S.M.I.L.E. Instructor of the Month.
Smith also gives back to his community by contributing to Auburn Drive's Mental Health Day, talking to high school students about the time management skills needed to navigate through university. He also volunteers his time working with local minor basketball organizations and helping them run practices.
Former Axemen player Jordan Sheriko is the only Acadia men's basketball player to win the CIS Ken Shields Award, receiving the honour in 2005-2006. The last AUS player to win the CIS award was Harry Ezenibe of Saint Mary's in 2013-2014.
In addition to Smith's award, Kyle Arseneault, a fourth-year Axemen forward from Fredericton, N.B., was named to the second all-conference team. Arseneault led the Acadia men in scoring with an 18.7 points per game average, fifth-best in the conference.
Third-year Axewomen guard Paloma Anderson was the choice for AUS women's basketball Player of the Year.
The 5'1” dynamo from Phoenix, AZ led the Acadia women to a 15-0 start to their regular season and a 16-4 record overall, good for second place in the conference standings.
In her second season with the Axewomen, Anderson started all 20 regular season games and led the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game, second in the AUBC.
She was also second in assists per game with 4.4, and was also among the league leaders in field goals, free throw percentage and steals.
In a Jan. 20 game against St. F.X. In Wolfville, she set a new school record with 41 points, and now sits sixth on the all-time list of AUS women's basketball single-game scorers.
Anderson is the first-ever Axewomen player to win the AUS Player of the Year award.
“We are very proud of Paloma's achievement,” Axewomen head coach Len Harvey said in a March 3 release. “It is something she has committed herself toward and worked hard for this season.”
Harvey added, “I think, above all else, as an undersized guard, being named MVP from among many deserving candidates is even more impressive.”
Anderson, he said, “has taken over games at times this season, and has been a fantastic 'finisher' in tight games. Everyone at Acadia is excited for her, and proud of her winning this well deserved award.”
As the conference MVP, Anderson goes into contention for the Nan Copp Award for the CIS Player of the Year.
The last AUS player to win the Copp Award was Justine Colley of Saint Mary's who won it in back-to-back seasons in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.
Anderson was also named a first-team all-star. Teammate Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.) was named to the second all-star team, and Kelsey Rice (Beaverbank, N.S.) made the All-Rookie team.
On the men's side, fifth-year Axemen guard Shaquille Smith is the latest Acadia student-athlete to win the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award for their sport.
The native of North Preston and graduate of Auburn Drive High School becomes the AUS nominee for the CIS Ken Shields Award.
Smith averaged 16.8 points per game for the Axemen this season, and was second in the conference in steals with 45. He was the engine that drove the Acadia offence all season.
He maintains a 3.3 Grade Point Average in the classroom, and is heavily involved in the local community, both at home and in and around Wolfville.
He volunteers with the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. Program, working with children with autism to develop motor, cognitive and social learning skills. In November, he was named S.M.I.L.E. Instructor of the Month.
Smith also gives back to his community by contributing to Auburn Drive's Mental Health Day, talking to high school students about the time management skills needed to navigate through university. He also volunteers his time working with local minor basketball organizations and helping them run practices.
Former Axemen player Jordan Sheriko is the only Acadia men's basketball player to win the CIS Ken Shields Award, receiving the honour in 2005-2006. The last AUS player to win the CIS award was Harry Ezenibe of Saint Mary's in 2013-2014.
In addition to Smith's award, Kyle Arseneault, a fourth-year Axemen forward from Fredericton, N.B., was named to the second all-conference team. Arseneault led the Acadia men in scoring with an 18.7 points per game average, fifth-best in the conference.