Minnesota Women’s Basketball: Pitts named Freshman of the Year; Wagner/Bell 1st Team All-Big Ten

The Minnesota Golden Gophers Women’s basketball team had their best season in the Big Ten since 2007-2008 this season, and it showed off in the season end awards announced by the conference on Monday. Destiny Pitts was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the conference coached and the media and to the 2nd Team All-Big Ten by the media. Both Carlie Wagner and Kenisha Bell were named to the 1st Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media.

Pitts is now the fourth Gopher in program history to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The other three? Janel McCarville, Rachel Banham, and Amanda Zahui B. Nice company to be in. Pitts was also named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team, and was named to the 2nd Team All-Big Ten by the media. She was named an honorable mention by the coaches.

The freshman from Detroit is fourth on the Gophers with a 13.1 points per game average. She leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game. Her three point shooting has also not gone unnoticed. Pitts ranks fourth in the Big Ten in three pointers made and three pointers made per game, and is 10th in the Big Ten in three point percentage. She tied a school record and is one of just five players in Big Ten history to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week seven times during the season.

Redshirt junior Kenisha Bell was named to the All-Big Ten team by both the coaches and media, and was even a unanimously selection by the media. She was named honorable mention a year ago. Bell leads the Gophers in scoring at 19.6 points per game, and is also averaging 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game. Its her defensive game that allowed her to be named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team by the coaches.

Bell leads the Big Ten in steals, stealer per game, assists, assists per game, and free throw attempts. She ranks 11th in the nation in assists and free throw attempts, thirteenth in free throws made, and 14th in assists per game.

Senior Carlie Wagner was named to her first career 1st team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media. She was named to the 2nd team by both the coached and media the past two seasons. Wagner also was the Minnesota nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Wagner is second on the team with 18.3 points per game and is also averaging 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She ranks third in the conference in three pointer made an made per game, fourth in three pointers attempted, and her 40.8% shooting from behind the arc is fourth in the conference.

The Gophers will need big performances from all three players as they await their opponent in the Big Ten Quarterfinals Friday afternoon.

The full list of Big Ten Award Winners is below: