DALLAS, Texas – East Texas Baptist graduate student guard
Payton Hicks was named Players of the Year in a vote by American Southwest Conference women’s basketball head coaches to headline the 2025 ASC Women’s Basketball awards and All-Conference teams announced Wednesday (March 5).
Hicks claimed her first Player of the Year accolade after guiding the Tigers to the 2025 ASC Women’s Basketball Championship (2nd) and regular season title. She was also named the 2025 ASC Tournament MVP and First Team All-ASC. Hicks ranked third in the league in total points scored with 355 and in points-per-game with 13.1. She leads the league in made free throws (129), total assists (109), and assists per game (4.0).
Hardin-Simmons forward
Jacqueline Berry earned Freshman of the Year. Berry led the ASC in total points (376) and points-per-game (13.9) while shooting 45 percent from field goal range. She ranked second in rebounding with 190 total boards, averaging seven per game. Berry also led the league in steals with 63 total.
Mary Hardin-Baylor junior point guard
Rachel Okoye was named Newcomer of the Year. She finished the season averaging 8.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. Okoye ranked top 10 with 57 assists and 39 steals.
East Texas Baptist sophomore guard
Kadia Ward was Defensive Player of the Year. She ranked third in the league in blocked shots (24), steals (54) and assists (73). Ward totaled 153 total rebounds and 189 total points.
Howard Payne sophomore forward
Kate Buchanan was named Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year.
East Texas Baptist Head Coach
Blake Arbogast was named ASC Coach of the Year after guiding the Tigers to a 23-4 record and 8-0 conference record. Coach Arbogast guided his team to an ASC Regular Season Title and ASC Championship title this season, earning the right to host the first and second round of the national tournament. The Tigers ranked second in the conference as they averaged 71.4 points per game and led with a 16.1 average point margin.
Five student-athletes that were named to an All-Conference team were repeat selections.
Player of the Year – Payton Hicks, East Texas Baptist
Freshman of the Year – Jacqueline Berry, Hardin-Simmons
Newcomer of the Year – Rachel Okoye, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Defensive Player of the Year – Kadia Ward, East Texas Baptist
Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year – Katie Buchanan, Howard Payne
Coach of the Year – Blake Arbogast, East Texas Baptist
All-Conference
First Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Payton Hicks 2 |
Gr. |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
Plano, Texas |
| Madison Williams |
So. |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Houston, Texas |
| Jacqueline Berry |
Fr. |
SF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Texoma, Oklahoma |
| Jaycie Brisco 2 |
Sr. |
G |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Snook, Texas |
| Rachel Okoye |
Jr. |
PG |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Houston, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Conference
Second Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Aiken Semones |
Sr. |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Houston, Texas |
| Kadia Ward 2 |
So. |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
Midlothian, Texas |
| Josie Bruder |
Jr. |
G/F |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Plano, Texas |
| Tiffany Bickford |
Jr. |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Madison Hurta |
Fr. |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
New Braunfels, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Conference
Third Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Mariana Espinosa |
So. |
PG |
LeTourneau |
Olmito, Texas |
| Kylie Weeks |
Jr. |
G |
LeTourneau |
Houston, Texas |
| Madison Clay |
So. |
SG |
Howard Payne |
Houston, Texas |
| Hannah Matthews 2 |
Sr. |
C |
East Texas Baptist |
Centerville, Texas |
| Jayla Hall 2 |
Sr. |
F |
East Texas Baptist |
Granbury, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Conference
Honorable Mention
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Adyson James |
So. |
F |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Cibolo, Texas |
| Caitlyn Panuco |
Jr. |
G/F |
Howard Payne |
Whitney, Texas |
All-Freshman Team
| Name |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Jacqueline Berry |
SF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Texoma, Oklahoma |
| Madison Hurta |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
New Braunfels, Texas |
| Karlee Cronk |
F |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Lubbock, Texas |
| MaeSyn Gay |
SF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Burnet, Texas |
| Kiana Henning |
PG |
Howard Payne |
San Antonio, Texas |
All-Defensive Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Kadia Ward |
So. |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
Midlothian, Texas |
| Jaycie Brisco 2 |
Sr. |
G |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Snook, Texas |
| Amillion Fowler |
Jr. |
G |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Houston, Texas |
| Jacqueline Berry |
Fr. |
SF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Texoma, Oklahoma |
| Sara Savage |
So. |
F |
LeTourneau |
North Richland Hills, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Defense