MOLINE, Ill. – Missouri State's Brice Calip has been named the 2021 Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year. Calip ranks top 10 nationally and is on pace for the MSU single-season record with a 2.94 assist-to-turnover ratio. She has scored in double figures in 18 of 22 games this season and is currently the Lady Bears' leading scorer averaging 13.4 points per game. She also leads the team and ranks second in The Valley in assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.3 spg). Calip also delivered late in ballgames this season, shooting 91% from the line in the fourth quarter and scored game-winners with less than 1.5 seconds remaining at Valpo and Illinois State.
In her first season at Drake, Grace Berg is this year's Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year. Berg provided an immediate impact in her first season starting every game for the Bulldogs. She is just the second Drake player to win MVC Newcomer of the Year joining Jayme Anderson in 2002. The Indianola native and transfer from Missouri, is second in the MVC in scoring with a career-high 16.4 points clip, ranks third in shooting at 54.1 percent and free throw percentage at 83.1. In addition, Berg averages 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Missouri State junior forward Jasmine Franklin earns this year's Defensive Player of the Year honor, becoming the seventh Lady Bear to win the award. Franklin leads the MVC in rebounding, ranks second in steals and ninth in blocks. She also leads the MVC in defensive rebounds, helping Missouri State ranked second nationally in defensive rebounding percentage. This season, the Lady Bears lead The Valley in scoring defense, surrendering only 56.8 points per game, which ranks as the second-best average in school history. The MSU defense held opponents below its scoring average in 20 of 22 games this season.
Loyola rookie Maya Chandler is this year's Freshman of the Year. Chandler is the first Loyola freshman to earn the award. She has started in all 22 games during her freshman campaign, averaging 8.1 points per game (4th on the team). She has also reached double figures in scoring eight times, highlighted by a season-best 18 points against Illinois State on March 6.
Drake's Maggie Bair claimed The Valley's Sixth Player of the Year, a distinction that is designed to honor an impact player that has started in fewer than half of its conference games. This year, Bair came off the bench in all 13 Valley games she played in, averaging 9.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 60% from the field.
Illinois State's Mary Crompton claimed The Valley's first-ever Most Improved Player Award. Crompton leads the league and is ranked 7th nationally in three-point percentage, shooting 46.4% from deep on the year. Her 2.6 triples per game and 52 made three-point field goals this year ranks 40th in all of NCAA DI in both categories. She is averaging 11.2 points per game and has drained 4+ three-point field goals in six games this season.
Missouri State's Amaka Agugua-Hamilton has been named the league's Coach of the Year for the second-straight season, guiding the Lady Bears to their 14th regular season title and first unbeaten conference season in program history. Agugua-Hamilton piloted the Lady Bears to a perfect 11-0 road record this season and were ranked in every USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll and 12 AP Top 25 polls this season. The Lady Bears also achieved back-to-back MVC titles for the first time since 2004 and 2005.