Sam Pirosko has earned just about every women's basketball award possible during the final season of her Gannon career.

Pirosko claimed the biggest honor yet on Thursday when the Women's Basketball Coaches Association named her the NCAA Division II Player of the Year.

The 5-foot-10 redshirt senior post player also was named a First-Team All-American by the WBCA.

"The WBCA is pleased to name Samantha Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) as the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Player of the Year," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. "She is most deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA applauds Samantha for her hard work, dedication, and contributions to the game during the 2023-24 season."

Earlier this season, Pirosko was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, the PSAC Tournament MVP, the D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year, and the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament MVP.
 

There is one other honor that Pirosko would like to win most of all – a national championship. She has led Gannon to a 35-2 record, a PSAC West regular-season title, a PSAC Tournament championship, and an Atlantic Regional title. As a result, Gannon has been awarded the No. 1 seed for next week's Division II Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo.

"Sam is not only a fantastic player and leader, she is most importantly a fantastic teammate," said Gannon coach Cleve Wright. "She is resilient and focused in all that she does. She serves her teammates and empowers them to be their best. I couldn't be happier for her to receive this honor. Her teammates and coaches celebrate with her!"
 
Pirosko leads the team with an average of 19.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. She has scored in double digits in 70 consecutive games, including all 37 games this season.
 
Her postseason has been even more impressive. In the five games since the PSAC semifinals, Pirosko has averaged 28.2 points and 10 rebounds per game. That has included a career-high 40 points and 19 rebounds in the PSAC semifinals, 32 points in the PSAC title game, and 34 points in the Atlantic Regional semifinals.
 
She has broken her own single-season school scoring record with 726 points and is shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 88.3 percent from the free-throw line. She is also a defensive standout who leads the team with 61 steals.
 
For her career, Pirosko ranks second in on Gannon's scoring list with 2,267 points. She trails career leader Rona Nesbit (2,340 points) by 73 points.
 
Pirosko will lead Gannon into the Elite Eight on Monday at 7 p.m. when the Golden Knights meet No. 8 Cal State San Marcos at St. Joseph Civic Arena.
 

 

WBCA Division II All-America Team

Name    Institution
Kola Bad Bear, Montana State University-Billings
Joey Batt, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Kalifa Ford, Valdosta State University
Ashley Ingram, Texas Woman's University
Sam Pirosko, Gannon University
Annie Roshak, Ashland University
Reese Schaaf, Drury University
Adriana Timberlake, Southern New Hampshire University
Lauryn Vieira, Eckerd College
Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman University
 
WBCA Player of the Year: Sam Pirosko, Gannon