INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. | Jayla Harris of the Virginia Wesleyan University women’s basketball team has been named a 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Nominated by Virginia Wesleyan, Harris was then selected as the Woman of the Year representative by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) making her just one of 149 female student-athletes to receive this honor across all three NCAA Divisions.
Harris capped her final season as a Marlin in exquisite fashion, setting new career-highs across the board while also wedging herself into the Virginia Wesleyan history books. Offensively, the Fredericksburg, Va. native could not be contained as her 21.1 points-per game not only led the conference but also ranked 10th among all Division III players. Harris also hit the national charts in two other statistical categories including ranking 12th in field goals made (200) and 13th total points (549). She also totaled a career-high 36 steals on the season while coming just two rebounds short of a career-high (98).
In the win over Randolph during the team’s regular season finale, Harris broke perhaps the most well-known VWU record as she took down Amy Simpson’s point total record of 1,910 that stood for nearly 33 years. The guard finished her career with 1,931 points (1st at VWU), 674 made field goals (2nd at VWU) and 377 made free throws (2nd at VWU).
Plenty of praise came for Harris as well, none better than a D3hoops.com Third Team All-America honor making her just the third player to reach All-America status in program history. She would go on to be tabbed the All-South Region and ODAC Player of the Year as well. Combining academics and athletics, Harris earned the Marjorie Berkley Award which is awarded to the Most Outstanding Female Student-Athlete in the conference as well as a Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-Academic nod.
--- This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan University sports information department. ---
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