AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2020-21 women’s basketball All-Conference team and major post-season awards. Lander took most of the major awards as Makaila Cangé was named the Player of the Year, Miriam Ricarte the Defender of the Year, Cierra Revelle the winner of the Elite 16 Award presented by EAB and Kevin Pederson the Coach of the Year. North Georgia’s Caroline Martin was named the PBC Freshman of the Year.
Makaila Cangé was dominant at both ends of the court for Lander this season. The sophomore forward from Douglasville, Ga., averaged 17.4 points and 13.6 rebounds per game while shooting 67% from the field. Her 13.6 rebounds per game not only leads the PBC but is on pace to be the fourth-highest single-season average in conference history. She is ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in rebounding average and is third nationally in field goal percentage. Her .667 (108-162) is on pace to become the best single-season shooting percentage in league history. She had double-digit rebounds 14 times with a league-high 21 against Francis Marion on Jan. 13, with 13 double-doubles this season. Cangé is the third Bearcat in the last five years to win the PBC Player of the Year award and the sixth overall.
Miriam Recarte is a key reason Lander leads the Peach Belt and is ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense. A junior from Pamplona, Spain, she leads the Peach Belt and is ranked eighth nationally in blocks, rejecting 21 more shots than any other conference player. Ranked eighth in the league in rebounding, she averages 7.8 rebounds per game to go with her 10.9 points and 3.0 blocks. Behind her leadership, the Bearcats lead the PBC in field goal percentage defense, rebounding, rebound margin and were second in turnover margin. Recarte is the third Bearcat to be named the Defensive Player of the Year, the first since Mylea McKenith in 2017.
Caroline Martin has had an explosive first year for North Georgia. The Cumming, Ga., native is ranked ninth in the PBC in scoring at 14.6 points per game following her 35-point explosion against Clayton State in the PBC Tournament semifinals on Wednesday. That is tied for the highest single-game point total in the PBC this season and is the first 30+ point game of her career. She scored 20 or more three times and is second on the team in scoring. She added 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and was named the PBC Player of the Week on Dec. 21. Martin becomes the fifth Nighthawk to be named the PBC Freshman of the Year, the first since teammate Abbie Franklin won in 2018.
The PBC Elite 16 Award is given to the player competing in the championship with the highest cumulative GPA and is presented by EAB. Cierra Revelle is a sophomore from Apex, N.C., carrying a perfect 4.00 GPA. She was named to the Lander President’s List for Fall 2020 and serves as president of the Lander FCA. On the court the guard has appeared in 16 games for the second-ranked Bearcats. Revelle becomes the second Bearcat to win the Elite 16 for women’s basketball, the first since Ashleigh Zandi in 2016.
Kevin Pederson claims his second PBC Coach of the Year honor after leading the Bearcats to the 2021 PBC regular-season championship, the sixth title in his 16 years at Lander. Pederson’s 2020-21 team is currently ranked #2 in the nation with a perfect 17-0 record and were 14-0 in conference play, becoming the first PBC women’s team in nine years to run the table in the conference schedule. Ranked #1 in the south region in the last NCAA rankings, the Bearcats have also advanced to Saturday’s PBC Tournament championship game where they will defend their 2020 title against North Georgia. Pederson’s teams have won the PBC Tournament on four previous occasions.
The All-Conference team and post-season awards are listed below as selected by the league’s head coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players for any award.
2020-21 PBC Women’s Basketball
All-Conference Team
First Team
Makaila Cangé, Lander
Abbie Franklin, North Georgia
Audrey McElhaney, Clayton State
Zamiya Passmore, Lander
Julianne Sutton, North Georgia
Second Team
Lex Chatman, Georgia Southwestern
Kennedi Manning, Augusta
Miriam Recarte, Lander
Timi’a Swanson, Clayton State
Zairya West, Augusta
Third Team
Chrisalyn Boston, Columbus State
Caroline Martin, North Georgia
Jaleah Storr, Georgia Southwestern
Harper Vick, Georgia College
Carly Winters, Young Harris
Player of the Year
Makaila Cangé, Lander
Defender of the Year
Miriam Recarte, Lander
Freshman of the Year
Caroline Martin, North Georgia
Elite 16 Award presented by EAB
Cierra Revelle, Lander
Coach of the Year
Kevin Pederson, Lander