Emani Bennett, Alayna Contreras and Dominique Phillips Receive Summit League Postseason Awards
3/7/2024 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bennett named to All-Freshman team, Phillips and Contreras notch spots on the All-Newcomer squad
SIOUX FALLS, S.D — The Summit League announced its postseason awards today, with three Roos earning honors. Emani Bennett earned herself on the All-Freshman Team while Alayna Contreras and Dominique Phillips made their mark on the All-Newcomer Team. Three post season awards is the most the Roos have received since the 2021-2022 season and the first time that three individual players gotten recognition since the Roos rejoined the Summit League.
After spending her first year at Cochise College, Contreras came to Kansas City and made her mark as the team's scoring leader. She averages 10.4 points per game on 34.9% three point shooting, adding 2.5 assists per game. Throughout conference play, she has ranked 20th in scoring, 12th in threes per game, 16th in assists per game and 17th in minutes per game. She surpassed the 10-point mark in 13-of-16 league games, including a season-best 24-point showing at South Dakota on Jan. 27.
Phillips came to Kansas City to finish her career after time at Nevada and Grand Canyon, becoming one of the team's best all-around players. She posts 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and a team-best 0.8 steals per game, averaging 25.4 minutes per contest. In conference play, she has ranked 19th in rebounds, 11th in blocks and 24th in steals per game. She went for double-digit points in seven games, including a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double in the regular season finale against Oral Roberts on Mar. 3.
Bennett came in as a touted recruit from Lee's Summit North HS and has been KC's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 8.1 points per contest on 38.2% shooting. She ranked 25th in the league in blocks per game while playing 27.5 minutes per game, the 24th-best mark in the Summit. She went for double-digit scoring six times in league play, dropping a season-best 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting in a win over North Dakota on Feb. 10.
This marks the fourth season in-a-row that the Roos have had at least one player on the All-Newcomer team and the 12th season in program history. Bennett is the first player to earn an All-Freshman honor since Leilah Vigil won Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Kansas City opens postseason play in Sioux Falls, S.D. tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. against #9 Omaha.
2023-24 Summit League Women's Basketball All-League Awards
First Team
Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Elle Evans, North Dakota State
Paige Meyer, South Dakota State
Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota
Grace Larkins, South Dakota
Hannah Cooper, Oral Roberts
Second Team
Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State
Taleyah Jones, Oral Roberts
Jordan Jones, Denver
Ruthie Udoumoh, Oral Roberts
Jade Hill, St. Thomas
Honorable Mention
Amber Scalia, St. Thomas
Grace Cave, Omaha
Madison Mathiowetz, South Dakota State
Jalei Oglesby, Oral Roberts
Emma Smith, Denver
All-Newcomer Team
Taleyah Jones, Oral Roberts
Jalei Oglesby, Oral Roberts
Kendall Holmes, South Dakota
Alayna Contreras, Kansas City
Dominique Phillips, Kansas City
All-Freshman Team
Emily Robinson, Oral Roberts
Abby Krzewinski, North Dakota State
Kiera Pemberton, North Dakota
Emani Bennett, Kansas City
Jenna Hopp, South Dakota State
All-Defensive Team
Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Ruthie Udoumoh, Oral Roberts
Tori Nelson, South Dakota State
Elle Evans, North Dakota State
Hannah Cooper, Oral Roberts
Player of the Year: Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: Taleyah Jones, Oral Roberts
Freshman of the Year: Emily Robinson, Oral Roberts
Sixth Woman of the Year: Jalei Oglesby, Oral Roberts
Defensive Player of the Year: Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Coach of the Year: Aaron Johnston, South Dakota State
