Skyler Reyna Earns ASC Honor

2018 Mar 19

McMurry University women's basketball player Skyler Reyna of San Antonio, TX has been honored by the American Southwest Conference.

After a five-game improvement in its league record - and its first winning season since 2011-12 - the McMurry University women's basketball team was rewarded accordingly in the American Southwest Conference West Division post-season awards, announced today. On a roster with just one senior, the War Hawks went 13-11 overall and 11-6 in the ASC West (flipping last season's 6-11 ASC mark and 9-15 overall) and placing second in the division.

Senior guard Sham Hunter and sophomore forward Skylar Reyna were both named first team All-ASC West Division. Hunter was also named to the All-Defensive Team for the second-consecutive season and was honored as the ASC West Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore guard Monica Jones - a transfer from Ranger College - picked up the ASC West Newcomer of the Year award.

Fittingly, the architect of the tremendous turnaround - third-year head coach Brittany Densman-Roes - was tabbed as the 2017-18 ASC West Division "Coach of the Year." Densman-Roes joins her former mentor, Sam Nichols, as the only other McMurry women's hoops coach to earn the ASC coaching honor (Nichols won the award in 2006).

"I feel very humbled to have received Coach of the Year," Densman-Roes said. "It was completely unexpected and I actually became very emotional when I read my name. My first thought was 'thank you Lord for the grace you have given me through my years of coaching and simply the opportunity to be a coach'. Then I thought of everyone in my support system that enable me to do something I love. When you think about the hours, the work, the sacrifice you and your family commit to your program, this serves as validation that you are making a difference and others see it; my peers see it. Lastly, I have to thank my team for believing and buying into the process. I wouldn't be 'Coach of the Year' without their trust, their love, and their grace."

Coming to McM as a sophomore - when the team won just four games the previous season - Hunter has led the resurgence of the McM program, more than tripling its wins during her tenure (13 in 2017-18). Hunter took her hometown team under her wing in 2017-18 as an all-around player. She averaged 10.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game, all while shooting better than 40 percent from the floor.

Hunter had seven double-double games and was the War hawks' leader in both steals and blocked shots, as well. She tallied in double-figure scoring 14 times and double-digit rebounds 11 times.

Hunter's award as the division's top defensive player marks the fifth time a McMurry player has brought home that honor. She joins two-time winners Ogonna Merritt (1999 & 2000) and Keshia Collins (2011 & 2012).

"Sham has played a pivotal role in improving our program from the first day she walked on campus," Densman-Roes said. "Her passion for the game and competitive spirit will be extremely hard to replace. She does so many little things for our team that people don't notice because of all the big things she can do. Sham is one of a kind and she will be greatly missed next season."

In 2017-18, Reyna became just the fifth player in McM history to average a double-double for a regular season, with 15.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Reyna had 13 double-double games, including six straight from December 30-January 18. She was the model of consistency, scoring in double figures 21 times in 24 games, while hauling in double-figure rebound totals 14 times.

Rena led the War Hawks in scoring in 11 games and was the squad's top rebounder 13 times. She posted five games with 20-plus points. She was twice named as the ASC West Player of the Week.

"Skyler continues to impress me each year," Densman-Roes said. "She is probably the most undersized player at her position throughout the ASC, but Skyler always finds a way. Her determination and persistence under the rim are impressive. I am extremely proud of the growth she has shown mentally, not just physically, and the leadership role she has accepted as a key player on our team."

Jones is the third McM honoree as the ASC West Newcomer of the Year. Previously, Anna Berthel (2009) and LaPorsha Alexander (2010) won the award for the Maroon and White.

Jones averaged 10.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, appearing in 23 contests in her first season with the War Hawks. She topped the team with 35 three-point baskets made, hitting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. Jones had a season-high 26 points versus Concordia University-Texas.

"Monica was a great addition to our team this season,"Densman-Roes praised. "She is naturally gifted with a basketball and an amazing athlete. Her quickness and strength make her versatile at the guard position and very hard to guard. We were very fortunate that Monica chose McMurry to continue her basketball career."

While obviously proud of the post-season accolades afforded her players, Densman-Roes also knows that each member of her 2017-18 roster played a part in each of the awards. "I am extremely excited for the recognition of the outstanding work by our team members Sham, Skyler and Monica, but they didn't get there on their own. I felt our team culture bought into the process therefore setting a new standard for all aspects in our program. This resulted not only in our success on the court, but also in our everyday lives. We have talked all year about 'trusting the process' and their faith in this mission has paid dividends to our individual and team success.

"I am extremely proud of our individual recognition not only for our basketball program, but for McMurry University."

The War Hawks team will be continuing the season March 8-10 at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region tournament, the school's first NCCAA bid since 2012-13.