Duquesne senior Megan McConnell on Tuesday was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in women’s basketball.
The Chartiers Valley product and a sister of Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell also earned a place on the all-conference first team, defensive team and academic team.
“We celebrate Meg and all of her achievements,” Duquesne coach Dan Burt said. “She has made our team better both on and off the court with her play and leadership.”
It marks the third consecutive season McConnell has made the first team and academic team and the second season in a row she’s been a defensive team selection.
She is the first Duquesne player to win Defensive Player of the Year since Jocelyn Floyd in 2013.
“Meg is the best player I’ve ever coached and the most improved player I’ve had in 28 years,” Burt said. “She truly deserves all the recognition.”
Three first-round games Wednesday kick off the A-10 Tournament at Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen, Va. No. 9 Duquesne (18-11), which earned a bye, opens play with a second-round game against No. 8 Fordham (15-14) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
The winner will face top-seeded Richmond in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Friday.
Duquesne and Fordham finished with identical 9-9 league records, but the Rams won a tiebreaker by defeating the Dukes in both regular-season meetings.
McConnell, a 5-foot-7 guard who is Duquesne’s top scorer (18.8 ppg) and rebounder (7.1 rpg), leads Division I with 115 steals (4.0 spg).
She recorded a career-high nine takeaways twice this season and has had at least five on nine other occasions.
A-10 all-conference women’s basketball team
First team
Maggie Doogan, Richmond
Megan McConnell, Duquesne
Mackenzie Smith, Saint Joseph’s
Rachel Ullstrom, Richmond
Zahirah Walton, George Mason
Laura Ziegler, Saint Joseph’s
Second team
Mary-Anna Asare, VCU
Addie Budnik, Richmond
Charlise Dunn, Davidson
Kennedy Harris, George Mason
Arianna Smith, Dayton
Paula Suarez, George Mason
Third team
Talya Brugler, Saint Joseph’s
Taylor Donaldson, Fordham
Harsimran Kaur, Rhode Island
Issy Morgan, Davidson
Megan Olbrys, Massachusetts
Ivy Wolf, Dayton
Academic team
Mary-Anna Asare, VCU
Addie Budnik, Richmond
Maggie Doogan, Richmond
Megan McConnell, Duquesne
Sophie Phillips, Rhode Island
Laura Ziegler, Saint Joseph’s
Defensive team
Anaelle Dutat, Rhode Island
Kennedy Calhoun, Saint Louis
Megan McConnell, Duquesne
Mykel Parham, VCU
Zahirah Walton, George Mason
Rookie team
Kyra Bruyndoncx, Davidson
Candice Lienafa, Davidson
Yahmani McKayle, Massachusetts
Joan Quinn, La Salle
Gabby Reynolds, George Washington