BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy garnered two major awards, while Bucknell and Lehigh each captured one when the Patriot League office announced women’s basketball postseason honors, presented by PenFed Credit Union, on Friday.

Bucknell sophomore forward Ashley Sofilkanich was named Patriot League Player of the Year after leading the League in scoring with 19.6 points per game. She ranked third in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and led the League in blocks per game (2.3). Sofilkanich helped the Bison to their first winning season in League play since 2021-22.

Navy sophomore guard Zanai Barnett-Gay was named Patriot League Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year after leading the League in steals (69) and steals per game (2.4). Her 69 steals ranked tied for 43rd nationally, while her 2.4 steals per game ranked 47th.

Teammate Julianna Almeida earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors. The freshman guard averaged 11.2 points per game in League play and shot 43% from beyond the arc. She ranked among the League’s top 3-point shooters, knocking down 29 in League play, the eighth most in the League.

Lehigh’s Addie Micir was named Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading the Mountain Hawks to a 15-3 record and their first outright regular-season title since 2008-09. Lehigh won a League-best 24 games this season and posted a 12-game win streak in League play.

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.
 
2024-25 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Player of the Year
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, So., F, South Amboy, N.J./ Saint John Vianney
2024-25 Stats: 29 GP, 19.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.3 bpg, .502 FG pct.
*Sofilkanich led the League in scoring with 19.6 ppg and finished third in rebounding with 8.5 rpg, leading Bucknell to a 16-13 record and a quarterfinal appearance.
*In League play, the sophomore averaged 20.1 ppg, leading the League in scoring and topping the League in blocks per game (2.1). She recorded the highest-scoring game this season with 44 points in the Bison’s overtime victory over Colgate (Jan. 22).
*Sofilkanich earned Patriot League Player of the Week honors five times this season while ranking No. 24 nationally in scoring and No. 14 in blocks per game.

2024-25 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, So., G, Glenn Dale, Md./ Riverdale Baptist School
2024-25 Stats: 29 GP, 18.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 spg, .417 FG pct.
*Barnett-Gay led the League and ranked No. 43 nationally with 69 steals this season for the Mids.
*The sophomore helped Navy record the second-most steals per game in the League at 8.17 and tied for the most steals in a game this season with six against Loyola Maryland (Jan. 11).
*Barnett-Gay has collected 158 steals in her career at Navy and has led the League in steals for the second straight season after tallying 89 last year.

2024-25 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year
Julianna Almeida, Navy, Fr., G, North Arlington, N.J./ Saddle River Day School
2024-25 Stats: 29 GP, 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0 .51 spg, .404 FG pct., .395 3FG pct.
*Almeida ranked 15th in points per game in League play and second among rookies with 11.2 ppg.
*The freshman led Navy in 3-point percentage (.395) and made 29 of her 32 threes this season in League play, highlighted by a 5-of-7 performance against Army West Point (Feb. 15).
*Almeida was selected as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week four times this season, as Navy claimed back-to-back Rookie of the Year honors following Barnett-Gay’s win last season. It marked the first time a program won consecutive Rookie of the Year awards since Bucknell in 2016.

2024-25 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year
Addie Micir, Lehigh
*Micir led the Mountain Hawks to a 24-6 overall record and a 15-3 League record, securing the Patriot League regular-season title and No. 1 seed for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
*Since her promotion to head coach in 2022, Micir has posted a winning record every season, with this year marking her highest win total.
*Micir guided Lehigh to the League’s top offense, averaging 69.9 ppg, and led the League with 247 3-pointers, ranking No. 30 nationally.
 
2024-25 All-Patriot League Teams
Army West Point and Colgate each placed three student-athletes on the three All-Patriot League teams. Lehigh and Holy Cross both posted two, while Boston University, Bucknell, Lafayette, Loyola Maryland, and Navy each had one All-League selection.

Seven of the 15 members on the three All-Patriot League teams are multi-season honorees. Colgate senior guard Taylor Golembiewski, Boston University senior guard Alex Giannaros, and Lafayette senior guard Abby Antognoli are all three-time selections.

Four two-time honorees join Golembiewski on the first team, as Army West Point senior guard Trinity Hardy (13.6 ppg, 2.1 spg), Bucknell sophomore forward Ashley Sofilkanich (19.6 ppg, 2.3 bpg), Lehigh fifth-year forward Maddie Albrecht (15.7 ppg), and Navy sophomore guard Zanai Barnett-Gay (18.8 ppg, 2.4 spg) have all been named to an All-League team one prior time.

The League’s top three 3-point shooters highlighted the second team, as Army West Point junior guard Reese Ericson (75 3PM), Lehigh senior guard Ella Stemmer (72 3PM), and Boston University senior guard Alex Giannaros (68 3PM) all earned second-team selections. The League leader in assists, Holy Cross junior guard Kaitlyn Flanagan (5.2 apg), and senior forward Holy Cross senior forward Lindsay Berger (12.2 ppg) rounded out the second team.

Lafayette senior guard Abby Antognoli (12.5 ppg, 57 3PM) led the third team, accompanied by Colgate junior guard Anne Bair (12.7 ppg, .884 FT pct.), Colgate senior guard Morgan McMahon (10.7 ppg), Army West Point sophomore forward Fiona Hastick (10.5 ppg) and Loyola Maryland senior guard Laura Salmeron (13.9 ppg).

Barnett-Gay, the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, highlighted the five-member All-Defensive Team, which included Army West Point’s Hardy (2.1 spg), Bucknell’s Sofilkanich (8.5 rpg, 2.3 bpg), Holy Cross’ Berger (0.9 bpg), and Lehigh’s Albrecht (1.8 spg, 0.7 bpg).

Almeida led the League’s seven-member All-Rookie Team, joined by American forward Cecilia Kay (11.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Boston University forward Allison Schwertner (8.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Bucknell guard Reese Zemitis (9.8 ppg, 59 3PM), Lafayette guard Talia Zurinskas (4.5 ppg), Lehigh guard Belle Bramer (4.3 ppg, .62 spg), and Navy guard Mary Gibbons (7.5 ppg).
 
2024-25 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Major Awards and All-League Teams
Player of the Year – Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, So., F
Defensive Player of the Year – Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, So., G
Rookie of the Year – Julianna Almeida, Navy, Fr., G
Coach of the Year – Addie Micir, Lehigh

First-Team All-Patriot League Team
Trinty Hardy, Army West Point, Sr., G
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, So., F
Taylor Golembiewski, Colgate, Sr., G
Maddie Albrecht, Lehigh, 5th, F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, So., G

Second-Team All-Patriot League Team
Reese Ericson, Army West Point, Jr., G
Alex Giannaros, Boston University, Sr., G
Lindsay Berger, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Kaitlyn Flanagan, Holy Cross, Jr., G
Ella Stemmer, Lehigh, Sr., G 

Third-Team All-Patriot League Team
Fiona Hastick, Army West Point, So., F
Morgan McMahon, Colgate, Sr., G
Anne Bair, Colgate, Jr., G
Abby Antognoli, Lafayette Sr., G
Laura Salmeron, Loyola Maryland, Sr., G

Patriot League All-Defensive Team
Trinity Hardy, Army West Point, Sr., G
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, So., F
Lindsay Berger, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Maddie Albrecht, Lehigh, 5th, F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, So., G

Patriot League All-Rookie Team*
Cecilia Kay, American, Fr., F
Allison Schwertner, Boston University, Fr., F
Reese Zemitis, Bucknell, Fr., G
Talia Zurinskas, Lafayette Fr., G
Belle Bramer, Lehigh, Fy., F
Julianna Almeida, Navy, Fr., G
Mary Gibbons, Navy, Fr., G
*Seven-member rookie team due to tie in voting

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.