BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boston University senior forward Caitlin Weimar headlined the 2023-24 Patriot League PenFed Credit Union Women’s Basketball postseason awards as the player and defensive player of the year when the League announced honors on Friday afternoon.
Navy freshman guard Zanai Barnett-Gay was named rookie of the year, while Loyola Maryland head coach Danielle O’Banion rounded out the major awards as the coach of the year.
Holy Cross placed a trio of student-athletes on the three All-Patriot League squads, while BU, Bucknell, Colgate and Lafayette had two selections each. American, Army West Point, Loyola, Lehigh and Navy rounded out the teams with one honoree apiece.
The Patriot League major awards and all-League teams are presented by PenFed Credit Union. They were voted on by Patriot League women’s basketball head coaches, who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
2023-24 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Player and Defensive Player of the Year
Caitlin Weimar, Boston University, Sr., F, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson
* Weimar finished the regular season leading the League in points per game (18.5), rebounds per game (10.5) and blocks per game (2.9) in 28 games played.
* The senior recorded 17 double-doubles this season – good for 12th in the nation.
* The four-time Patriot League Player of the Week recently moved into 12th on BU’s career scoring list with 1,217 points.
* She is now the sixth Terrier in program history to reach 800 career rebounds.
* Weimar was named the 2023-24 preseason player and defensive player of the year and is a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
2023-24 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Fr., G, Glenn Dale, Md./Riverdale Baptist School
* Barnett-Gay capped the regular season second in the League in points per game (18.3) and first in steals per game (3.0).
* She broke Navy’s program record with seven Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors. She is the first player in program history to sweep player and rookie honors.
* Barnett-Gay broke Navy's freshmen scoring record with 512 points this season set by Colleen Cassidy (414) in 1978-79.
* Her single-season points tally ranks fifth in Navy history.
* Barnett-Gay is also the first Navy women’s basketball freshman to ever earn First Team All-League honors.
2023-24 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year
Danielle O’Banion, Loyola Maryland
* In her third year at Loyola Maryland, O’Banion led the Greyhounds to the No. 4 seed in the 2023-24 Patriot League PenFed Credit Union Women’s Basketball Championship.
* The Greyhounds finished the year with its best finish tied for second in the Patriot League since joining the conference in 2013-14.
* Loyola finished Patriot League play 10-8, which is their most Patriot League wins since the 2015-16 season (11).
2023-24 Patriot League Women’s Basketball All-League Teams
Weimar and Barnett-Gay are joined on the All-Patriot League First Team by BU junior guard Alex Giannaros, Holy Cross senior guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy and Loyola Maryland junior forward Lex Therien.
The second-team recipients are American senior forward Emily Johns, Army junior guard Trinity Hardy, Bucknell sophomore guard Emma Theodorsson, Colgate graduate student guard Alexa Brodie and junior guard Taylor Golembiewski and Lafayette senior guard Makayla Andrews.
Bucknell freshman forward Ashley Sofilkanich, Holy Cross senior forward Janelle Allen and senior guard Cara McCormack, Lafayette junior guard Abby Antognoli and Lehigh senior guard Maddie Albrecht were all placed on the All-League Third Team.
The five-member All-Defensive Team is highlighted by Weimar, the League’s defensive player of the year and Barnett-Gay, the rookie of the year. They are joined by American senior guard Ivy Bales, Bucknell’s Sofilkanich and Colgate graduate student guard Alexa Brodie.
Barnett-Gay was joined by Army freshman guard Fiona Hastick, Bucknell’s Sofilkanich, Loyola freshman guard Kimmie Hicks and Nanu freshman guard Kyah Smith on the all-rookie team.
2023-24 Women’s Basketball All-Patriot League Teams and Major Awards
Player of the Year: Caitlin Weimar, Boston University, Sr., F
Defensive Player of the Year: Caitlin Weimar, Boston University, Sr., F
Rookie of the Year: Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Fr., G
Coach of the Year: Danielle O’Banion, Loyola Maryland
First-Team All-Patriot League
Caitlin Weimar, Boston University, Sr., F
Alex Giannaros, Boston University, Jr., G
Bronagh Power-Cassidy, Holy Cross, Sr., G
Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Fr., G
Second-Team All-Patriot League*
Emily Johns, American, Sr., F
Trinity Hardy, Army West Point, Jr., G
Emma Theodorsson, Bucknell, So., G
Alexa Brodie, Colgate, Gr., G
Taylor Golembiewski, Colgate, Jr., G
Makayla Andrews, Lafayette, Sr., G
Third-Team All-Patriot League
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, Fr., F/C
Janelle Allen, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Cara McCormack, Holy Cross, Sr., G
Abby Antognoli, Lafayette, Jr., G
Maddie Albrecht, Lehigh, Sr., G
Patriot League All-Defensive Team
Ivy Bales, American, Sr., G
Caitlin Weimar, Boston University, Sr., F
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, Fr., F/C
Alexa Brodie, Colgate, Gr., G
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Fr., G
Patriot League All-Rookie Team
Fiona Hastick, Army West Point, Fr., G/F
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, Fy., F/C
Kimmie Hicks, Loyola Maryland, Fr., G/F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Fr., G
Kyah Smith, Navy, Fr., G
* Due to a tie in voting there are six players on the second team.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.