Notre Dame freshman Sonia Citron named ACC Rookie of the Year
Sonia Citron was named ACC Freshman of the Week more times than any other women's basketball player in the conference this season.
So it should come as no surprise that Citron, the 6-foot-1 guard from Eastchester, N.Y., was named the ACC Rookie of the Year by the conference's Blue Ribbon Panel of media members. The coaches voted for Duke guard Shayeann Day-Wilson as the ACC Freshman of the Year.
Citron has done a little bit of everything for the Irish in her first season. She averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals throughout the regular season. Only three freshmen across Division I are averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Citron started the last 10 games of the regular season after beginning the season as a bench player. She became the third Notre Dame player to win ACC Rookie of the Year after Brianna Turner (2015) and Maddy Westbeld (2021).
Citron was named ACC Freshman of the Week six times this season. Boston College center Maria Gakdeng received the honor five times. Day-Wilson won it three times.
The Blue Ribbon panel put Notre Dame freshman guard Olivia Miles on its 10-player, All-ACC First Team and Notre Dame graduate senior forward Maya Dodson on its 5-player, All-ACC Second Team.
The coaches voted Dodson and Miles as members of the 10-player, All-ACC First Team. Dodson, who averages 2.8 blocks per game, also made the All-Defensive Team.
Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey finished third place in the Blue Ribbon Panel's ACC Coach of the Year voting. NC State's Wes Moore won the award with Virginia Tech's Kenny Brooks finishing second.
2021-22 Blue Ribbon Panel Awards
ACC Player of the Year Voting
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C - 948 points
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C - 861 points
Emily Engstler, Louisville, Sr., F - 720 points
ACC Rookie of the Year Voting
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, Fr., G - 505 points
Shayeann Day-Wilson, Duke, Fr., G - 476 points
Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, Fr., C - 425 points
ACC Coach of the Year Voting
Wes Moore, NC State - 150 points
Kenny Brooks, Virginia Tech - 73 points
Niele Ivey, Notre Dame - 70 points
Blue Ribbon Panel (69 Voters)
All-ACC First Team
Cameron Swartz, Boston College, Sr., G
Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, 5th Yr., F
Emily Engstler, Louisville, Sr., F
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, So., G
Deja Kelly, North Carolina, So., G
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
Jewel Spear, Wake Forest, So., G
All-ACC Second Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F
Morgan Jones, Florida State, Sr., G
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina, So., F
Maya Dodson, Notre Dame, Gr., F
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Gr., G
Honorable Mention
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, Sr., G
Kelsey Marshall, Miami, Gr., G
Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
Kayla Jones, NC State, Gr., F
Teisha Hyman, Syracuse, R-So., G
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech, So., G
2021-22 Head Coaches Awards
ACC Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
ACC Freshman of the Year: Shayeann Day-Wilson, Duke, Fr., G
ACC Coach of the Year: Wes Moore, NC State
ACC Defensive Player of the Year: Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, 5th Yr., F
ACC Sixth Player of the Year: Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
ACC Most Improved Player: Cameron Swartz, Boston College, Sr., G
All-ACC First Team
Cameron Swartz, Boston College, Sr., G
Morgan Jones, Florida State, Sr., G
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, 5th Yr., F
Emily Engstler, Louisville, Sr., F
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, So., G
Deja Kelly, North Carolina, So., G
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C
Maya Dodson, Notre Dame, Gr., F
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
All-ACC Second Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F
Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G
Kayla Jones, NC State, Gr., F
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Gr., G
Jewel Spear, Wake Forest, So., G
Honorable Mention
Kelsey Marshall, Miami, Gr., G
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech, So., G
All-Defensive Team
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, 5th Yr., F
Emily Engstler, Louisville, Sr., F
Mykasa Robinson, Louisville, Sr., G
Maya Dodson, Notre Dame, Gr., F
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
All-Freshman Team (Blue Ribbon & Head Coaches)
Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, C
Shayeann Day-Wilson, Duke, G
O’Mariah Gordon, Florida State, G
Makayla Timpson, Florida State, F
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, G
Ja’Leah Williams, Miami, G
Aziaha James, NC State, F
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
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