NEW YORK (April 26, 2021) – Arella Guirantes of Rutgers University has been named All-Met Division I women’s college basketball Player of the Year for 2020-21 as announced Monday by the Met Basketball Writers Association.

Caroline McCombs of Stony Brook, who has since moved on to George Washington, was selected as the Maggie Dixon Coach of the Year.

Diamond Johnson of Rutgers was named All-Met Rookie of the Year.

Both Guirantes and Johnson were selected on the First Team.

The rest of the All-Met First Team: Leilani Correa, St. John’s; Anna DeWolfe, Fordham; Willow Duffell, Marist; Andra Espinoza-Hunter and Lauren Park-Lane, Seton Hall; Lou Lopez-Senechal, Fairfield.

The All-Met Second Team: JaKayla Brown, Hofstra; Desiree Elmore, Seton Hall; Makayla Firebaugh, Rider; Kendell Heremaia, Fordham; Emilija Krista Grava, Wagner; India Pagan, Stony Brook; Taiah Thornton, Saint Peter’s.
 

Guirantes represents the ninth player and 13th time a Scarlet Knight has been named Player of the Year since the Met Writers inaugurated women’s awards in 1996. The last player from Rutgers so honored was Tyler Scaife in 2018.

A 5-11 senior guard from Bellport, NY, Guirantes --- who was named to the All-Big Ten first team and an Associated Press All-America honorable mention --- led the Scarlet Knights (14-5) and was third in the conference with 21.3 points per game (No. 17 in the nation).

Guirantes also posted an average of 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, the only player in the Big Ten to average in the top 5 in points, assists, steals and blocks. She shot 41.6% (137-320) from the field, 37.8% (31-82) from 3-point range and 86.8% (99-114) at the free throw line.

Guirantes recorded a triple-double (17 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in a Dec. 23 homecourt victory over Manhattan, one of only 15 triple-doubles nationally this past season and just the third ever at Rutgers. In a 69-66 NCAA Tournament loss to BYU, she registered 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting.

Other former MBWA Players of the Year from Rutgers, in addition to Guirantes and Scaife: Epiphanny Prince, 2008; Kia Vaughn, 2007; Cappie Pondexter, 2003-04-05-06; Tasha Pointer, 1998 (co-winner) and 2001; Shawnetta Stewart, 1999-2000; Tomura Young, 1998 (co-winner).

McCombs, in her seventh season at the helm, guided the Seawolves (15-6, 11-3) to the America East playoff crown this past season and the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Stony Brook lost in the first round to eventual national championship runnerup Arizona.

The Seawolves under McCombs earned a reputation for defensive tenacity. Stony Brook held opponents in 2020-21 to an average of 52.4 points, fifth-best in the nation.

A native of Medina, OH, and 1998 graduate from Youngstown State, McCombs was named the AE conference coach of the year for 2019-20 when the Seawolves posted a 28-3 overall record. The winningest coach in Stony Brook’s Division I history (130-76, .631 W-L pct.), McCombs was named head coach at George Washington on April 2.
 

The MBWA Maggie Dixon Coach of the Year award is named in memory of the former Army West Point head coach who died tragically in 2006 at age 28 following an arrhythmia heart episode. Dixon had a dynamic and emotional effect on West Point and the world of women’s college basketball. She had a positive impact on everyone she came into contact with.
 

SUMMARY

NEW YORK (April 26, 2021) – The 2020-21 All-Met Division I women’s college basketball teams announced Monday by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
 
 
First Team
Leilani Correa, St. John’s • 6-0, So., G • Manchester, NJ
Anna DeWolfe, Fordham • 5-8, So., G • Cumberland, ME
Willow Duffell, Marist • 6-2, Sr., F • Harriman, NY
Andra Espinoza-Hunter, Seton Hall • 5-11, Gr., G/F • Ossining, NY
Arella Guirantes, Rutgers • 5-11, Sr., G • Bellport, NY
Diamond Johnson, Rutgers • 5-5, Fr., G • Philadelphia, PA
Lou Lopez-Senechal, Fairfield • 6-1, Jr., F • Grenoble, France
Lauren Park-Lane, Seton Hall • 5-6, So., G • Wilmington, DE

Second Team
JaKayla Brown, Hofstra • 5-10, Jr., G • LaPlata, MD
Desiree Elmore, Seton Hall • 5-10, Sr., F • Hartford, CT
Makayla Firebaugh, Rider • 5-10, Fr., G • Winchester, VA
Kendell Heremaia, Fordham • 5-9, Sr., G • Whangarei, New Zealand
Emilija Krista Grava, Wagner • 6-0, Jr., F • Ligatne, Latvia
India Pagan, Stony Brook • 6-1, Sr., F • New London, CT
Taiah Thornton, Saint Peter’s • 5-5, Sr., G • Pennsauken, NJ
 


Player of the Year: Arella Guirantes, Rutgers
Guirantes' Highlight Video

Coach of the Year: Carolione McCombs, Stony Brook
McCombs' Acceptance Video

Rookie of the Year: Diamond Johnson, Rutgers

For a list of previous Women's Division I Awards:
Players of the Year • Coaches of the Year • Rookie of the Year

--- www.metbasketballwriters.org ---