Sam Pirosko is the D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year

Women's Basketball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Pirosko Named D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- Gannon's Sam Pirosko has been named the 2023 Atlantic Region Player of the Year and headlines the 2022-23 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region Women's Basketball Team. 
 
A 5-foot-10 redshirt senior, Pirosko was recently selected the PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year. She is enjoying one of the finest seasons ever by a Gannon women's basketball player and was helped the Golden Knights to a 29-4 record and berth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. Gannon enters as the number two seed and will seventh-seed Charleston (WV) on Friday, March 10.
 
Joining Pirosko on the 2022-23 All-Atlantic Region First Team are Breanna Campbell (Glenville State), Ariel Jones (Shippensburg), Amaya Tucker (Winston-Salem State) and Emilee Weakley (Frostburg State). These five women are now eligible for All-America recognition.
 
The second team consists of Lauren Calhoun (Wheeling), Alyssa DeAngelo (Fairmont State), Rana Elhusseini (Edinboro), Rajah Fink (California), Leah Johnson (West Chester) and Mickayla Perdue (Glenville State). There are six players on the All-Region Second Team due to a tie in voting.
 
Pirosko leads Gannon in both scoring (20.3 ppg.) and rebounding (7.6 rpg.), ranking second in the PSAC in scoring and 14th in rebounding. She is second in the conference in field goal percentage (55.6 pct.) and eighth in free throw percentage (81.1 pct.). Pirosko broke the season record for points previously held by Rona Nesbit, with her total standing at 670 points.
 
Pirosko has scored in double figures in the last 32 games and has scored 20-or-more points in nine of the last 11 games after scoring 27 points against Pitt-Johnstown last Wednesday, followed by a 33-point effort in the PSAC semifinal win over Shippensburg. The 33 points matched her career high. Pirosko has scored 20-or-more points 18 times, including four games with 30-or-more points. She has moved into ninth place in career scoring with 1,518 points. She has had ten double-doubles and has moved into the top 15 in career rebounds with 602, good for 14th place
 
She is now a two-time first-team All-PSAC West selection after earning the award a year ago, as well, leading Gannon to the PSAC Championship and a berth in the Atlantic Regional. She was selected a WBCA honorable mention All-American while leading the Golden Knights in scoring (16.2 ppg.) and rebounding (6.4 rpg.).
 
Sports information directors from NCAA Division II Atlantic Region schools and conferences selected the two all-region teams. The process concludes with All-American selections announced later in the month. The Atlantic Region consists of schools from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the MEC and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), along with independents Bluefield State and Salem.
 
The team is sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, which encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
 
2022-23 D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Women's Basketball Teams
 
FIRST TEAM
Name School Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown
Breanna Campbell Glenville State G 5-5 Jr. Largo, Fla.
Ariel Jones     Shippensburg G 5-7 Sr. Lebanon, Pa.
Sam Pirosko ** Gannon F 5-10 R-Sr, Eastlake, Ohio
Amaya Tucker     Winston-Salem State G 5-6 Gr. Winston-Salem, N.C.
Emilee Weakley     Frostburg State F 5-11 Fr. Luray, Va.

** 2022-23 Atlantic Region Player of the Year

SECOND TEAM
Name School Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown
Lauren Calhoun Wheeling C 6-0 Sr. Ravenna, Ohio
Alyssa DeAngelo     Fairmont State G 5-10 Jr. Jefferson Hills, Pa.
Rana Elhusseini Edinboro G 5-3 Jr, Dearborn, Mich.
Rajah Fink     California (Pa.) G/F 5-10 Sr. Dover, Pa.
Leah Johnson     West Chester G 5-5 Jr. Columbus, N.J.
Mckayla Perdue Glenville State G 5-6 Jr. Springfield, Ohio
 
** six players on Second Team due to a tie in voting
 
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