Faucher leads Viking Award Winners

On the heels of completing their finest regular season in 14 years, several members of the Portland State women’s team claimed Big Sky All-Conference Awards.

As the Vikings prepare to head to Montana to take on Northern Colorado in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament tonight, they received some good news Tuesday evening. The conference awards were handed out and it was announced that sophomore Claire Faucher was a unanimous selection to the Big Sky All-Conference first team.

The naming of Faucher, a point guard from Yakima, Wash., to the first team came days after one of her finest performances of the season. Against Montana last Saturday, Faucher tallied a triple-double and broke the conference’s all-time single season assist record.

Faucher, who was named the Big Sky Outstanding Freshman of the Year last season, led the nation in assists per game this year, averaging nearly 10, while scoring 13.1 points a contest.

Faucher’s play this season has highlighted a young Viking squad that has established themselves as one of the best programs in the conference, and the Big Sky Conference awards serve as an indicator of that progress.

Forward Kelli Valentine earned the Big Sky Conference’s Outstanding Freshman of the Year Award, marking the third consecutive year that award has been given to a Viking. The freshman from Spokane, Wash. joins Faucher and junior forward Kelsey Kahle in that elite category. Starting in 21 of 29 games, Valentine is averaged 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season.

Senior forward Delaney Conway was awarded a spot on the second team All-Big Sky squad, and Kahle garnered honorable mention awards to round out the honors for Portland State.

Big Sky Award Winners

First TeamClaire Faucher, Guard

Second TeamDelaney Conway, Forward

Honorable MentionKelsey Kahle, Forward

Outstanding FreshmanKelli Valentine, Forward