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/ Women's BasketballAlissa Pili Named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
March 03, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Features
Also an All-Pac-12 Team and All-Freshman Team pick, Pili is joined on the honor roll by Kayla Overbeck and Endyia Rogers.
USC's Alissa Pili is not just the best freshman in the Pac-12, she's already vying with many decorated conference veterans in just her first season as a Trojan. For her dominant performance in Pac-12 play, the powerful forward has been named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and she also has a spot on the All-Pac-12 Team, landing her among the top 10 players in arguably the most competitive women's basketball conference in the nation.
Pili has produced eye-popping numbers in her debut season. Averaging 16.2 points per game overall, she's erupted in Pac-12 play in standing as the No. 2 scorer in conference games with 19.4 points per game. She's also fourth in the conference in overall double-doubles, boasting 11 to date. Fifth in the conference in rebounding (8.1 rebounds per game) and field goal percentage (50.9 percent), Pili also stands strong from the stripe. She's shooting 82.4 percent from the line in conference play and 79.2 overall. It's a point of pride for the entire Trojan team, which ranks No. 5 in the nation in free-throw percentage (79.1 percent).
Pili ranks in the nation's top-50 with her 11 double-doubles, and is top-100 in scoring, rebounding, free throws made, field goals made and field-goal percentage. All that to say, Pili is something special. Only four other Trojans have been named conference Freshman of the Year, with the last being Briana Gilbreath in 2009. That crew also includes Trojan greats Tina Thompson and Lisa Leslie, as well as Monica Lamb.
Pili is the first USC freshman to be named to the All-Pac-12 Team since the 10-player team was established in 2010. A four-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week — also a first for the Trojans — Pili also is secure with a place on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. as the Pac-12 Tournament awaits, she leads all Pac-12 freshmen in scoring, rebounding and free-throw percentage.
But Pili isn't the only Trojan on the honor roll. Senior captain Kayla Overbeck wraps her USC career with Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention. Her strength in the paint has helped stymie some of the top posts in the nation. A formidable and relentless defender, Overbeck is USC's leader in steals during Pac-12 play, averaging 1.7 steals per game against conference foes. Overall, the standout senior is also averaging 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. This is Overbeck's first award from the Pac-12 since joining the Trojans as a junior transfer from Vanderbilt.
While Pili and Overbeck have been lauded for their power in the paint, freshman guard Endyia Rogers has shined in the backcourt in her first season as a Trojan. USC's second leading scorer with 12.8 points per game, the full-time starter has landed a place on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention list. With double digits in 18 games, Rogers unleashed a 30-point game at Arizona State. She was a Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honoree as well after setting new career bests in back-to-back USC wins at Galen Center over Washington and WSU.
Pili, Overbeck, Rogers and the Women of Troy are off to Las Vegas this week for competition at the Pac-12 Tournament, running March 5-8 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. USC (16-13) is the No. 7 seed in the tourney, opening up against No. 10 Colorado at 6 p.m. on Thursday (March 5) to fight for a quarterfinal spot against rival UCLA.
Pili has produced eye-popping numbers in her debut season. Averaging 16.2 points per game overall, she's erupted in Pac-12 play in standing as the No. 2 scorer in conference games with 19.4 points per game. She's also fourth in the conference in overall double-doubles, boasting 11 to date. Fifth in the conference in rebounding (8.1 rebounds per game) and field goal percentage (50.9 percent), Pili also stands strong from the stripe. She's shooting 82.4 percent from the line in conference play and 79.2 overall. It's a point of pride for the entire Trojan team, which ranks No. 5 in the nation in free-throw percentage (79.1 percent).
Pili ranks in the nation's top-50 with her 11 double-doubles, and is top-100 in scoring, rebounding, free throws made, field goals made and field-goal percentage. All that to say, Pili is something special. Only four other Trojans have been named conference Freshman of the Year, with the last being Briana Gilbreath in 2009. That crew also includes Trojan greats Tina Thompson and Lisa Leslie, as well as Monica Lamb.
The picks are out! And @alissa_pili is the @Pac12 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR!
— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) March 3, 2020
We're not gonna say we told you so, but…#FightOn ✌️#TheTrojanWay pic.twitter.com/HjmEaxWOuh
Pili is the first USC freshman to be named to the All-Pac-12 Team since the 10-player team was established in 2010. A four-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week — also a first for the Trojans — Pili also is secure with a place on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. as the Pac-12 Tournament awaits, she leads all Pac-12 freshmen in scoring, rebounding and free-throw percentage.
But Pili isn't the only Trojan on the honor roll. Senior captain Kayla Overbeck wraps her USC career with Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention. Her strength in the paint has helped stymie some of the top posts in the nation. A formidable and relentless defender, Overbeck is USC's leader in steals during Pac-12 play, averaging 1.7 steals per game against conference foes. Overall, the standout senior is also averaging 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. This is Overbeck's first award from the Pac-12 since joining the Trojans as a junior transfer from Vanderbilt.
While Pili and Overbeck have been lauded for their power in the paint, freshman guard Endyia Rogers has shined in the backcourt in her first season as a Trojan. USC's second leading scorer with 12.8 points per game, the full-time starter has landed a place on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention list. With double digits in 18 games, Rogers unleashed a 30-point game at Arizona State. She was a Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honoree as well after setting new career bests in back-to-back USC wins at Galen Center over Washington and WSU.
Pili, Overbeck, Rogers and the Women of Troy are off to Las Vegas this week for competition at the Pac-12 Tournament, running March 5-8 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. USC (16-13) is the No. 7 seed in the tourney, opening up against No. 10 Colorado at 6 p.m. on Thursday (March 5) to fight for a quarterfinal spot against rival UCLA.
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