CONWAY, Ark. – The awards continue to roll in for the Central Arkansas women's basketball team, as the ASUN releases its all-conference teams and superlatives this morning. The Sugar Bears earned one superlative award, with Bree Stephens being named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, and two all-conference nods in Jade Upshaw and Leah Mafua.
 
"When you have a great team, you have many student-athletes that are worthy of individual honors," Head coach Tony Kemper said. "I am so happy for this standout group of Sugar Bears that their hard work, effort and accomplishments are being recognized. They have cemented themselves as one of the best groups to play at Central Arkansas and conduct themselves in a first-class manner every day." 
 
Stephens earned the title of Defensive Player of the Year after leading the ASUN in blocks by a mile. Ranking fifth in the nation in total blocks (77) and sixth in blocks per game (2.66), the Aussie forward was the only ASUN player to reach even 50 blocks this season. Her ability to impact a game on the defensive end was a regular sight, with at least one block in 25 games this year, and seven games of five or more rejections. During conference play, she had more blocks than every other team for 14 games, leading the league by herself. She finished with 57 blocks in ASUN games, just shy of Stetson's 60.
 
Stephens also added a team-high 153 defensive rebounds and 34 blocks, standing as the only ASUN player to log more than 100 combined blocks and steals. She earned  the Sugar Bears' first ASUN superlative, and is the team's first conference DPOY since Megan Herbert won one in the Southland Conference in 2011-12.
 
"Bree is the best shot blocker in the league and one of the best in the country. She has the ability to defend different positions and all over the floor," coach Kemper added. " At times this year she has completely shut down some very talented offensive players. It is very fitting that she be named the conference DPOY."
 
Upshaw earned her second All-ASUN nod, this time being named to the league's first team. The Sapulpa, Oklahoma native's ability to score the ball became a nightmare for the ASUN's coaches, because all it took was a couple of shots to go down for teams to know they were in for a long night. Upshaw was tied for third in the ASUN in scoring this season at 14.9 points per game, with a season-high 31 points against Lipscomb. Among the top-five scorers in the ASUN, she was one of two to tally 50 three-pointers, and finished the regular season eighth in total made triples.
 
The senior guard breached the 1,000 point mark during the year, hitting a basket against North Florida to cross the mark. In two seasons, she has over 800 points at Central Arkansas, including 432 this season. She also ranks sixth in Central Arkansas's Division I history in made threes.
 
"Jade improved on a really good season from a year ago, which is not easy to do. I've been impressed with her improvement in all phases of her game," coach Kemper said of Upshaw. "Along with her knack for lighting up a scoreboard, she has impacted our ability to win through other areas like rebounding. She deserves to be highlighted for an outstanding career here at UCA."
 
Leah Mafua was selected as a Second Team All-ASUN guard, and was truly deserving this season. Her ability to impact the game in all facets was on display all season, and she was the only ASUN player to finish in the top-20 in scoring, three-pointers, assists, steals and blocks. She averaged 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, adding 37 steals and 19 blocks, producing on both ends night in and night out.
 
She had season-highs of 24 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, six steals and two blocks, highlighting how divers of a statline Mafua could have on any given night. She upped her game during ASUN games, averaging 13.9 points on 47/38/79 shooting splits, becoming more efficient as the season went on. Mafua took over games late in the season, using her crafty style of scoring and manipulation of the floor to ice games down the stretch as Central Arkansas built a 12-game winning streak to claim the ASUN's No. 2 seed.
 
"I'm thrilled for Leah to be recognized as one of the best in our league," coach Kemper said of Mafua. "Everyone in our program knows the value she brings to our team on both sides of the basketball and understands the way she helps set our mentality. Her growth from the past year has had a direct impact on us being successful."
 
The trio will lead the Sugar Bears into the postseason, playing the winner of Bellarmine and Jacksonville on Saturday. Game time in the Farris Center will be at 6:30 p.m.