Payne, Taylor Garner All-American Athletic Conference Honors
March 05, 2015 | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. - With the announcement of the All-American Athletic Conference teams on Thursday, East Carolina redshirt junior Jada Payne received first team honors while junior I'Tiana Taylor was tabbed to the second team and was chosen as the Newcomer-of-the-Year following a vote by the league's head coaches.
Payne becomes just the third player in program history to receive first team recognition multiple times and in consecutive years, joining Sarah Gray (1989-90) and Tonya Hargrove (1990-92).
"It's an incredible honor for our players to be recognized individually because Jada and I.T. are having great seasons," head coach Heather Macy said. "Their contributions have been important to our team's overall success this season and I'm very proud of both of them."
The Hickory, N.C., native led the Pirates and ranked fourth in The American in scoring with 16.7 points per game and first in free throw percentage at 89.3, topping the team in scoring in 20 of 29 contests while dropping 20 or more points on nine different occasions. A 43-percent shooter from the field, Payne posted four double-doubles and was equally as dangerous from three-point range with 68 conversions on 41-percent of her attempts. Her 70 makes in 2013-14 set the school record, as she is poised to break that mark this season. On Feb. 18, Payne became the 22nd ECU player to score 1,000-career points in a career, eclipsing the mark in just 57 games.
Taylor scored in double-digits 14 times and tallied four 20-point performances as part of her 11.1 average, which ranked second on the team during her first campaign with the Pirates. The Pflugerville, Texas native's 9.1 rebounds per game ranked second in the conference, while her 3.9 per contest on the offensive glass led all players in the league. She grabbed double-digit boards on nine occasions and notched a team-best seven double-doubles, leading East Carolina in rebounding 16 times and compiling seven or more in 20 contests.
The American will announce its Coach-of-the-Year, Player-of-the-Year, Freshman-of-the-Year and Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year at Mohegan Sun Arena during a live press conference Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m.
The No. 5 seed in the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championship, East Carolina (20-9, 11-7 AAC) will take on fourth-seeded Temple (16-15, 12-6 AAC) in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 7. Opening tip is scheduled for 12 noon at Mohegan Sun Arena.
American Defensive Player-of-the-Year
Kiah Stokes, C, Sr., UConn
American Sixth Player-of-the-Year
Gabby Williams, G, Fr., UConn
Ashley Clark, G, Jr., Tulsa
American Newcomer-of-the-Year
I'Tiana Taylor, F, Jr., East Carolina
American Most Improved Player-of-the-Year
Moriah Jefferson, G, Jr., UConn
American Sportsmanship Award
Tyonna Williams, G, Sr., Temple
All-Conference First Team
*Breanna Stewart, F, Jr., UConn
*Courtney Williams, G, Jr., USF
*Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, F, Sr., UConn
*Moriah Jefferson, Jr., G, UConn
Jada Payne, G/F, R-Jr., East Carolina
Morgan Tuck, F, R-So., UConn
All-Conference Second Team
Alisia Jenkins, F, Jr., USF
Ariel Hearn, G, Jr., Memphis
Ashley Clark, G, Jr., Tulsa
Zykira Lewis, G, So., UCF
I'Tiana Taylor, Jr., F, East Carolina
Kiah Stokes, Sr., C, UConn
All-Conference Third Team
Erica Covile, G, Jr., Temple
Alliya Butts, G, Fr., Temple
Danielle Blagg, G, Sr., Tulane
Kolby Morgan, G, Fr., Tulane
Kia Nurse, G, Fr., UConn
* denotes unanimous pick
