New Braunfels, Texas – Sophomore guard Jacqueline Berry of Hardin-Simmons was named the 2025-26 American Southwest Conference Player of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday (March 4). ASC All-Conference awards are voted on by head coaches and sports information directors from each member institution.
The postseason awards include Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year, and Coach of the Year. In addition to the individual honors, five-player First and Second All-Conference Teams are selected along with All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams.
Helping her team to both a regular-season and tournament championship, Jacqueline Berry earns her first Player of the Year accolade after starting all 27 games for the Cowgirls and leading the conference in scoring (14.9 ppg). Berry also ranked in the top five in several statistical categories, including rebounding (6.7), total assists (79), and steals per game (2.5). She was named the 2026 ASC Tournament MVP, First Team All-ASC, and earned ASC All-Defensive Team honors.
Mary Hardin-Baylor guard Rachel Okoye was named Defensive Player of the Year. Okoye led the conference in steals per game (2.8) and ranked fourth in rebounds per game (6.3). She totaled 150 rebounds and 66 steals on the season.
Howard Payne forward Caitlyn Parsons was named Newcomer of the Year. Parsons averaged 11.2 points per game and ranked second in the conference in rebounds per game (9.7) and total blocked shots (31).
Hardin-Simmons guard Avery Cathey earned Freshman of the Year honors. Cathey scored a career-high 17 points in conference play against Howard Payne, connecting on five three-pointers. She logged 392 minutes this season and averaged 6.6 points per game.
Howard Payne junior Kate Buchanan was named Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year.
After leading Hardin-Simmons to the ASC Championship, head coach Kendra Whitehead was named ASC Coach of the Year. Whitehead guided HSU to a 22–5 overall record and a 5–1 conference mark this season. The Cowgirls earned the right to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament after receiving the automatic bid. Offensively and defensively, Hardin-Simmons ranked atop the conference, averaging 69.1 points per game while allowing just 55.4 points, finishing with a +13.7 scoring margin. Whitehead most recently earned Coach of the Year honors in 2023.
Four student-athletes named to an All-Conference team were repeat selections.
Player of the Year – Jacqueline Berry, Hardin-Simmons
Defensive Player of the Year – Rachel Okoye, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Newcomer of the Year – Caitlyn Parsons, Howard Payne
Freshman of the Year – Avery Cathey, Hardin-Simmons
Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year – Kate Buchanan, Howard Payne
Coach of the Year – Kendra Whitehead, Hardin-Simmons
All-Conference
First Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Hannah Ayala |
Jr. |
F |
East Texas Baptist |
El Paso, Texas |
| Jacqueline Berry2 |
So. |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Texhoma, Oklahoma |
| Caroline Croft |
Sr. |
PG |
Hardin-Simmons |
Bartlett, Illinois |
| Rachel Okoye2 |
Sr. |
G |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Houston, Texas |
| Caitlyn Parsons |
Fr. |
F |
Howard Payne |
Gordon, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Conference
Second Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Josie Bruder2 |
Sr. |
F |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Plano, Texas |
| MaeSyn Gay2 |
So. |
F |
Hardin-Simmons |
Burnet, Texas |
| Hope Hermesmeyer |
Fr. |
G |
Howard Payne |
Goldthwaite, Texas |
| Macey Jones |
So. |
F |
East Texas Baptist |
Tylertown, Mississippi |
| Caitlyn Panuco |
Gr. |
G |
Howard Payne |
Whitney, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Conference
All-Defensive Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Hannah Ayala |
Jr. |
F |
East Texas Baptist |
El Paso, Texas |
| Jacqueline Berry2 |
So. |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Texhoma, Oklahoma |
| MaeSyn Gay |
So. |
F |
Hardin-Simmons |
Burnet, Texas |
| Rachel Okoye |
Sr. |
G |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Houston, Texas |
| Caitlyn Parsons |
Fr. |
F |
Howard Payne |
Gordon, Texas |
2 Two-Time All-Defense
All-Freshman Team
| Name |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Tayley Bullen |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Avery Cathey |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Panhandle, Texas |
| Natalia Galvan |
G |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Hearne, Texas |
| Conley Gibson |
G |
East Texas Baptist |
Conway, Arkansas |
| Nilaya Gordon |
G |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sunnyvale, Texas |