TAMPA, Fla. – Mar. 7, 2025 – South Florida women’s basketball graduate guard Mama Dembele was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and senior forward L’or Mputu was tabbed Most Improved Player by the American Athletic Conference on Friday afternoon.
Graduate guard Sammie Puisis landed on the All-Conference First Team, junior forward Carla Brito earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team, and Dembele was also named to the All-Defensive Team.
Dembele is the first player in program history to earn the Defensive Player of the Year distinction, while Mputu is the fourth player in program history and the third Bull in AAC history to be named the Most Improved player of the Year.
GRADUATE GUARD MAMA DEMBELE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- First Bull in program history to earn Defensive Player of the Year Honors
- Ranked 21st nationally in Assists Average (5.4 apg.) and 18th nationally in total assists (163).
- Dembele is the first DI (men’s or women’s), NBA or WNBA player this century to have 50+ minutes played, 10+ assists, 3+ steals, and zero turnovers in a game (Rice, Feb.12).
- Leads The American with 2.4 Steals Average.
- Dembele has logged 19 games this season with five or more assists.
SENIOR FORWARD L’OR MPUTU SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Fourth player in program history (third Bull in AAC History) to be named the Most Improved Player of the Year.
- Has grabbed 10+ rebounds in 10 games this season and has recorded double-digit points in nine of the last 13 games.
- Logged sixth career double-double (11 pts, 10 rebs) in win at Charlotte (Feb. 18).
- Collected fifth career double-double (14 pts, 10 rebs) against North Texas (Feb. 1).
- Added fourth career double-double (14 pts, 10 rebs) at North Texas (Jan. 11).
- Matched a career-best 17 points in overtime win against Charlotte (Jan. 1).
- Added her third career double-double (career-best 17 points and 11 rebounds) in upset of No. 9/10 Duke (Dec. 21).
GRADUATE GUARD SAMMIE PUISIS SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Ranked 5th nationally in Total 3PM (95 3PM) & 5th in 3PM Per Game (3.2 3PM avg.).
- Named to USBWA Ann Myers Drysdale Award Midseason Watch List.
- Named USBWA National Player of the Week (Dec. 24) and AP Player of the Week Honorable Mention (Dec. 24).
- Led with career-best 34 points (6 3PM) in win against Memphis (Feb. 22).
- Scored 17 points and hit the 3-pointer to tie at the end of regulation and go-ahead 3-pointer in 3OT to secure win against Rice (Feb. 12).
- Led all scorers with 23 points (3-3 3FG, 8-8 FT) in upset of No. 9/10 Duke (Dec. 21).
- Puisis is the third Bull in program history to have 20+ points in a win against an AP Top-10 opponent and the second-ever Bull to shoot 100% from 3-point range in a win against an AP Top-10 opponent. (Duke, Dec. 21).
JUNIOR FORWARD CARLA BRITO SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Brito (18 points, 11 rebounds) recorded her sixth double-double of the season in the win against Memphis (Feb. 22).
- Has scored in double digits in 9 of the last 12 games.
- Added 16 points in back-to-back games against Rice (Feb. 12) and at FAU (Feb. 15).
- Collected 12 points in the win against North Texas (Feb. 1).
- Added 14 points, 9 rebounds, & matched career-best 6 assists in win against UTSA (Jan. 29).
- Brito (14 points, career-best 15 rebounds, six assists) collared a double-double in the first half in the win against Florida Atlantic (Jan. 18).
Player of the Year
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA
Coach of the Year
Karen Aston, UTSA*
Defensive Player of the Year
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida
Freshman of the Year
Kendall Sneed, G, Tulane
Most Improved Player
L’or Mputu, Sr., F, South Florida
Sixth Player of the Year
Kaylah Turner, So., G, Temple
Newcomer of the Year
Nina De Leon, Gr., G, UTSA
Ambassador Award
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa
First Team All-Conference
Amiya Joyner, Jr., F, East Carolina
Tommisha Lampkin, Sr., F, North Texas*
Tilly Boler, 5th, G, Memphis
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Sammie Puisis, Gr., G, South Florida
Tiarra East, Sr., G, Temple
Tarriyonna Gary, 5th, G, Temple
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA*
Sherese Pittman, Sr., F, Tulane
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa*
Second Team All-Conference
Jade Weathersby, So., F, UAB
Mya Perry, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Alasia Smith, 5th, F, Memphis
Desiree Wooten, So., G, North Texas
Dominique Ennis, Jr., G, Rice
Carla Brito, Jr., F, South Florida
Kyren Whittington, R-Sr., G, Tulane
Nina De Leon Negron, Gr., G, UTSA
Idara Udo, So., F, UTSA
Jayla Murray, R-Jr., F, Wichita State
All-Newcomer Team
Tilly Boler, 5th, G, Memphis
Victoria Flores, So., G, Rice
Sherese Pittman, Sr., F, Tulane
Kaylah Turner, So., G, Temple
Nina De Leon Negron, Gr., G, UTSA
All-Defensive Team
Alasia Smith, 5th, F, Memphis
Aniyah Johnson, Sr., F, North Texas
Desiree Wooten, So., G, North Texas
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida*
All-Freshman Team
Devin Hagemann, G, East Carolina*
Tamya Smith, F, Memphis
Aniah Alexis, G, Rice
Savannah Curry, G, Temple
Sadie Shores, G, Tulane
Kendall Sneed, G, Tulane*
Kennedi Alexander, Tulsa
*denotes unanimous selection
Awards are voted on by the leagues head coaches.
UP NEXT
South Florida awaits the winner of 11 Seed Wichita State and Six Seed Tulane, as the Bulls are the Three Seed and will open 2025 AAC Tournament play in the quarterfinal round on Monday, Mar. 10 at 9 p.m.
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ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
South Florida women’s basketball has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 25 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, has won over 450 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
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