CASTINE, Maine – The Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association released its all-state awards on Monday and Husson University sophomore Saige Evans and freshman Sophia Carnes were honored.
Evans garnered a spot on the all-state second team, after earning a second team selection on the D3hoops.com All-Region 1 team earlier on in March. Evans was crowned NAC player of the year and a first team all-conference selection after a breakout sophomore year. Evans became the first sophomore in program history to be crowned conference player of the year after finishing tied for first in the conference in points per game with 16.3, while also placing second in the conference with 9.8 rebounds per game, leading the conference in both total points and total rebounds.
Additionally, Evans ranked second in the NAC in both field goal percentage (44.9%) and free throw percentage (78.0%), while recording 17 double-doubles by the end of the season, which was good for 13th in all of Division III. Evans recorded double-digit point totals in 25 of Husson's 26 games this season, including six 20-point games and one 30-point performance, while winning NAC player of the week six times and Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week three times during the season.
Carnes became Husson's first all-rookie team selection for the MWBCA since Bailey Donovan in 2020, as she was selected as one of the six best rookies in the state. Carnes became Husson's first conference rookie of the year selection since Donovan in 2020, in addition to the 12th winner all-time for the program, as she was a sparkplug off the bench offensively for Husson, showcasing her elite three-point shooting, finishing third in the conference in three-pointers made, while placing fourth on the Eagles with 7.3 points per game. Carnes posted 2.3 rebounds per game and over two assists, in addition to just shy of 1.5 steals in her rookie campaign, which saw her earn NAC rookie of the week twice, MWBCA rookie of the week once and NAC defensive player of the week once.
