Orono, Maine – University of Maine sophomore forward Adrianna Smith has been named the America East Women's Basketball Player of the Year, as announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon.

Smith, who also earned a spot on the America East All-Conference First Team and All-Academic squad, becomes the ninth Black Bear in the history of the program to earn Player of the Year honors and the third in as many seasons after Anne Simon and Blanca Millan each earned the honor for Maine in the past two years. 

Simon joined Smith on the honors list as the senior guard was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team while also earning a nod to the league's All-Academic roster.

Smith turned in one of the most dominant regular season campaigns in league history as she became just the first player since Vermont's Sheri Turnbull in 1993-94 to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in conference play, finishing the 2022-23 conference slate at 23.5 points per game and 10.8 rebounds. The sophomore turned in 23 double-digit scoring performances during the regular season, including four 30-plus scoring performances, to go along with a conference leading 15 double-doubles. At the conclusion of the regular season, Smith ranked among the top five of America East individual leads in seven statistical categories including points per game (1st, 18.0), rebounds per game (9.5), double-doubles (1st - 15), field goal percentage (2nd - 50.4), assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd - 1.6), assists (4th - 3.4), and free throw percentage (5th - 73.9). Smith posted double-figure scoring efforts in all conference games with 10 double-doubles against league opponents.

Simon earns her third All-Conference selection and her first nod to the America East Second Team. Despite appearing in just 12 games during the regular season, eight of which being conference games, Simon made a huge impact when active as she ranked second on the team in scoring at 12.0 points per game to go along with 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and a team-high 1.7 steals. Simon, who ranks 10th in scoring in program history at the time of writing, posted six double-figure scoring performances out of her 12 games played including a season-high 21 point effort in Maine's season opening victory at James Madison.  

The Black Bears return to action on Wednesday, March 1 when they host Binghamton in America East Quarterfinal action at 7 p.m.

-UMaine-