This article was originally published on GoPetrels.com.
Freshman forward Savannah LeGate of the Oglethorpe women’s basketball team was named the women’s Division III Rookie of the Year by D3hoops.com over the weekend, marking the first time that a member of the Stormy Petrels has won a postseason national award from the website. It also marks the third rookie or newcomer of the year award that LeGate has won this season.
LeGate earned South Region Rookie of the Year honors earlier in the week, along with garnering a spot on the All-South Region First Team. On the conference side, she earned SAA Player of the Year, SAA Newcomer of the Year and All-SAA First Team honors from the league’s coaches in February for her part in helping Oglethorpe to its first-ever outright conference regular season title. She also garnered SAA Tournament MVP accolades for her part in the Petrels’ run to their first SAA championship and second league championship (after the 2009 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title) during the SAA Tournament at Dorough Field House from Feb. 23 through 25.
Along with leading the Petrels to those two titles and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2009, LeGate averaged 13.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. She was the only SAA student-athlete this season to average a double-double. Along with ranking first in rebounds and fifth in scoring, LeGate led the league in offensive rebounds (154), total rebounds (307) and blocks (50). In conference play, LeGate was even better. The first-year forward averaged 12.1 rebounds and scored in double figures in 10 of 14 games.
Nationally, LeGate sits 10th in the nation in double-doubles with 18 on the season, and 11th in offensive rebounding with 5.0 offensive boards per game. She’s also 20th in the country in total rebounds.
LeGate becomes the first Petrel to earn an All-America honor from D3hoops.com since Anna Findley was named to the All-America Third Team in 2009. Katie Kulavic was named to the All-America Fourth Team in 2008, as well, marking the only other D3hoops.com All-America mention for the program.
“I’m super proud of all that Savannah was able to accomplish on the basketball court this year, culminating with this recognition,” said Oglethorpe head coach Alex Richey. “The best part about coaching Savannah is her humility and her team-first attitude. When great players project those attributes, it becomes contagious throughout the team and it is that mentality from all of our players that was the key factor in why we were able to win a conference championship this season. I’m very much looking forward to what comes next for Savannah, her teammates, and this program.”
This year’s D3hoops.com All-America team is the 21st annual All-America selection made by the website. The D3hoops.com All-America teams, along with those of the respective coaches’ associations, are the only ones recognized in the NCAA record book.
