Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Johnson selected C-USA Freshman of the Year
3/7/2016 10:10:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Seventh player in program history to win honor
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After bursting onto the scene in record-breaking fashion, Middle Tennessee standout Alex Johnson has been named C-USA Freshman of Year, as announced by the league office Monday morning.
Johnson was selected Freshman of the Year in a vote of league coaches and select media members. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native is the seventh player in program history to be named freshman of the year.
"This is an unbelievable honor, and I'm very appreciative to the people who believed in me," Johnson said. "I was hoping to be able to step in as help the team in some way this year but it is a big jump from high school to college so I wasn't sure what to expect. This year has been so much more than I could have anticipated. I wanted to be able to be a reliable part of the team, but I could have never imagined playing the role I have."
The powerful forward was Middle Tennessee's third-leading scorer at 11.6 points per game, and she ranked fifth in C-USA in field goal percentage (.531), and ninth in blocked shots (0.9). Johnson produced 18 double-figure scoring games, including three of 20-plus points.
"There are some outstanding freshman in Conference USA but let me tell you, I doubt any of them meant as much to their team as Alex Johnson did to Middle Tennessee," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We asked so much of her, so much more than a freshman is usually asked to carry, but she just worked hard and got it done. She's very coachable, very humble. I am excited for Alex Johnson because I really believe she deserved this honor."
Johnson was a five-time C-USA Freshman of the Week honoree, tying former Blue Raider standout and Hall of Famer Priscilla Robinson Murray for most such awards. Robinson-Murray won five Ohio Valley Conference honors in 1990-91.
Johnson, who helped lead nearby Blackman High School to two Tennessee Class AAA state championships, burst onto the scene and earned All-Tournament honors at the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev., during a Thanksgiving Tournament.
Johnson's game accelerated once conference play began. She scored double figures against every league team except one and had 10 straight double-figure scoring games during one stretch when the Blue Raiders won nine straight.
"There were times Alex Johnson just put us on her back and carried us," Insell said. "We really started counting on her heavily at the start of conference play and she has delivered. She's a hard worker and because of that her teammates trust her. They work to get her the ball."
Johnson has actually played her best basketball down the stretch. She is Middle Tennessee's leading scorer in the last five outings with 15.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. In C-USA play, Johnson averaged 14.6 points, which was second on the team, and 3.8 rebounds.
Perhaps no game reflects Johnson's personal growth more than at UAB, Feb. 21. Johnson failed to score against UAB in the first meeting between the teams, Jan. 3. It was the only game she did not score this season; however, in the second meeting she poured in a career-high 29 points to lead the Blue Raiders to a 77-72 overtime win.
"I think the biggest thing for me is just the trust my teammates have shown," Johnson said. "They have really helped me with the adjustment to college basketball. Everything I do is for the team so this is a team award to me."
C-USA Speciality Awards
Player of the Year: Kendall Noble, WKU
Freshman of the Year: Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Year: Kendall Noble, WKU
Newcomer of the Year: Starr Breedlove, UTEP
Sixth Player Award: Sparkle Taylor, UTEP
Coach of the Year: Keitha Adams, UTEP
Coaches Circle (Given to coaches that receive at least one vote in coach of the year voting)
Cara Consuegra, Charlotte
Matt Daniel, Marshall
Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee
Tina Langley, Rice
Middle Tennessee Freshmen of the Year
Pricilla Robinson (OVC) – 1991
Jonelda Buck (OVC) – 1996
Joanne Aluka (OVC) – 1998
Patrice Holmes (Sun Belt) – 2002
Ebony Rowe (Sun Belt) – 2011
Olivia Jones (C-USA) – 2014
Alex Johnson (C-USA) -2016
Johnson was selected Freshman of the Year in a vote of league coaches and select media members. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native is the seventh player in program history to be named freshman of the year.
"This is an unbelievable honor, and I'm very appreciative to the people who believed in me," Johnson said. "I was hoping to be able to step in as help the team in some way this year but it is a big jump from high school to college so I wasn't sure what to expect. This year has been so much more than I could have anticipated. I wanted to be able to be a reliable part of the team, but I could have never imagined playing the role I have."
The powerful forward was Middle Tennessee's third-leading scorer at 11.6 points per game, and she ranked fifth in C-USA in field goal percentage (.531), and ninth in blocked shots (0.9). Johnson produced 18 double-figure scoring games, including three of 20-plus points.
"There are some outstanding freshman in Conference USA but let me tell you, I doubt any of them meant as much to their team as Alex Johnson did to Middle Tennessee," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We asked so much of her, so much more than a freshman is usually asked to carry, but she just worked hard and got it done. She's very coachable, very humble. I am excited for Alex Johnson because I really believe she deserved this honor."
Johnson was a five-time C-USA Freshman of the Week honoree, tying former Blue Raider standout and Hall of Famer Priscilla Robinson Murray for most such awards. Robinson-Murray won five Ohio Valley Conference honors in 1990-91.
Johnson, who helped lead nearby Blackman High School to two Tennessee Class AAA state championships, burst onto the scene and earned All-Tournament honors at the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev., during a Thanksgiving Tournament.
Johnson's game accelerated once conference play began. She scored double figures against every league team except one and had 10 straight double-figure scoring games during one stretch when the Blue Raiders won nine straight.
"There were times Alex Johnson just put us on her back and carried us," Insell said. "We really started counting on her heavily at the start of conference play and she has delivered. She's a hard worker and because of that her teammates trust her. They work to get her the ball."
Johnson has actually played her best basketball down the stretch. She is Middle Tennessee's leading scorer in the last five outings with 15.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. In C-USA play, Johnson averaged 14.6 points, which was second on the team, and 3.8 rebounds.
Perhaps no game reflects Johnson's personal growth more than at UAB, Feb. 21. Johnson failed to score against UAB in the first meeting between the teams, Jan. 3. It was the only game she did not score this season; however, in the second meeting she poured in a career-high 29 points to lead the Blue Raiders to a 77-72 overtime win.
"I think the biggest thing for me is just the trust my teammates have shown," Johnson said. "They have really helped me with the adjustment to college basketball. Everything I do is for the team so this is a team award to me."
C-USA Speciality Awards
Player of the Year: Kendall Noble, WKU
Freshman of the Year: Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Year: Kendall Noble, WKU
Newcomer of the Year: Starr Breedlove, UTEP
Sixth Player Award: Sparkle Taylor, UTEP
Coach of the Year: Keitha Adams, UTEP
Coaches Circle (Given to coaches that receive at least one vote in coach of the year voting)
Cara Consuegra, Charlotte
Matt Daniel, Marshall
Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee
Tina Langley, Rice
Middle Tennessee Freshmen of the Year
Pricilla Robinson (OVC) – 1991
Jonelda Buck (OVC) – 1996
Joanne Aluka (OVC) – 1998
Patrice Holmes (Sun Belt) – 2002
Ebony Rowe (Sun Belt) – 2011
Olivia Jones (C-USA) – 2014
Alex Johnson (C-USA) -2016
Players Mentioned
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