Basketball's Kahlaijah Dean has been named Sacramento State's Female Newcomer of the Year. This award goes to the top female transfer at Sacramento State. A Bakersfield, Calif., native, Dean was named the Big Sky Conference MVP and Big Sky Newcomer of the Year after helping lead the Hornets to a school-record 25 wins, the program's first-ever Big Sky regular season and tournament titles, and the first trip to the NCAA Tournament…a unanimous first team all-league selection, Dean was named the Big Sky Tournament MVP, earned a spot on the all-tournament team, and was a five-time Big Sky Player of the Week…started all 33 games, ranking second on the school's single-season list with an average of 20.8 ppg…scored in double figures in 32 of the team's 33 games.

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OTHER NOMINEES

Alyssa Brewer (Track & Field) - Advanced to the NCAA West First Round in the 800…earned all-Big Sky Conference honors after placing third in the event at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships…ran 2:07.31 at the Mt. SAC Relays for her best time of the year, and fourth fastest in school history…finished first at the Causeway Classic Dual in 2:08.41…also ran the 200 in one meet and the 400 in two meets…earned all-Big Sky honors in the 4x400 relay as she ran the anchor leg for the team which finished third in 3:45.78 at the Big Sky Championships.

Mayya Gorbunova (Tennis) - An all-Big Sky Conference second team selection in singles and a three-time Big Sky Player of the Week choice…finished the season with a 15-6 overall record at the No. 1 singles position, and led the team in doubles wins with a 13-7 mark…began the year with a perfect 10-0 mark atop the Hornet lineup – the longest winning streak at any spot in the Hornet lineup since 2011…her 15 wins were the most by a Sacramento State player since 2018…led all No. 1 singles players in the Big Sky in both wins and winning percentage.

Sienna Lyford (Golf) - Earned second team all-Big Sky Conference honors during her first season with the team…averaged 73.74 in 31 rounds which placed her 13th on the school single-season list and fifth on the career chart…finished the regular season by placing eighth at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic, tying for first at the Riverside Classic, and finishing third at the Big Sky Championships…best 54-hole total was 76-67-60-213 at the Evie Odom Invitational where she tied for 11th…tied the school record with 13 rounds at, or below par.

Jada Walker (Softball) - A second team all-Big Sky Conference selection…played in 46 games in her first season with the Hornets, including 43 starts in center field…hit .325 (38-for-117) with 27 runs, three doubles, two triples, 15 walks, 13 RBIs and a .398 on-base percentage…finished the season as the Hornets' leadoff hitter…6-for-8 in stolen base opportunities…led the Hornets with a .474 batting average in Big Sky play, the third best mark in the conference…hit .371 with runners in scoring position.

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AWARD TIMELINE

June 12 - Female Freshman of the Year
June 13 - Male Freshman of the Year
June 14 - Female Newcomer of the Year
June 15 - Male Newcomer of the Year
June 16 - Women's Academic Team of the Year
June 17 - Men's Academic Team of the Year
June 18 - Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year
June 19 - Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year
June 20 - Female Individual Performance of the Year
June 21 - Male Individual Performance of the Year
June 22 - Clutch Performance
June 23 - Female Team Performance of the Year
June 24 - Male Team Performance of the Year
June 25 - Team of the Year
June 26 - SAAC Award
June 27 - Coach of the Year
June 28 - Female Hornet Award
June 29 - Male Hornet Award
June 30 - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 1 - Male Student-Athlete of the Year