Women's PCAC Basketball Honors Announced, MSJC's Walton MVP

Alyssa Walton (right) was named the Player of the Year in the PCAC North as she led the MSJC women's basketball team to an undefeated conference championship. (Michael Frazier/MSJC)
Alyssa Walton (right) was named the Player of the Year in the PCAC North as she led the MSJC women's basketball team to an undefeated conference championship. (Michael Frazier/MSJC)
Posted: Mar 01, 2019

The Pacific Coast Athletic Conference announced their women's basketball awards on Monday and MSJC sophomore Alyssa Walton earned the North Division's Player of the Year award while three of her teammates also garnered First Team all league honors.

Walton, a sophomore from Victor Valley HS in Victorville, helped the Lady Eagles to their second straight PCAC North title and their fifth conference championship in the past seven seasons during the 2018-19 campaign.  Walton averaged 10.6 points per game and 7.1 rebounds as MSJC finished the regular season with an overall record of 23-6.  Walton bumped those totals up to 15.3 and 7.3 in PCAC games as the Lady Eagles completed just the second undefeated conference season in program history as the finished 7-0 to win the league title.

Sharonda Edwards (FR Moreno Valley/Canyon Springs), Haylei Janssens (FR Riverside/King), and Britney Neely (SO Rialto/Rialto) were all three named First Team All-Conference.  Edwards, who has already signed a scholarship for next season to NCAA Division I Monmouth, fought through an early season injury to finish the season averaging 10.2 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.   Edwards like Walton also picked up her production during league play as she increased her scoring average to 14.7 points and grabbed  9.7 boards in PCAC games.  Janssens ended the regular season as the team's top scorer and rebounder as she poured in 11.2 points per game and grabbed 8.8 rebounds a night.  Neely finished​ the season at 10.6 points per game and led the team in assists with 87 on the year and made three point shots with 55.

In addition sophomores Raena Lasley (Lake Elsinore/Lakeside) and Madeline Gray (Redlands/East Valley) were named 2nd Team All PCAC for their efforts this season.  Gray usually drew the assignment of guarding the opponents best player regardless of position and also hauled down 6 rebounds a game.  Lasley was second on the team in assists with 81 during the regular season and third in made three point shots with 37.

These six players along with their teammates will begin play in the CCCAA Southern California Regional on Friday night when they host West LA at 7 pm.  The Lady Eagles who have reached the Regional Tournament 13 seasons in a row are the defending CCCAA State Champions.