Alexander, Tyson-Thomas Lead All-BIG EAST Honorees

VIDEO: Coach Q Interview | Alexander, Butler & Sykes Interview | Tyson-Thomas Interview

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Four Syracuse women's basketball players were honored by the BIG EAST on Thursday as the conference announced its All-BIG EAST teams. Senior Kayla Alexander was named All-BIG EAST First Team, Brianna Butler and Brittney Sykes were named to the All-Freshman squad, and senior Carmen Tyson-Thomas was named the Sixth-Man of the Year.

The four honorees is tied for the most ever for the No. 24/21 Orange with 2008, the year SU made its last NCAA Tournament appearance.

Alexander's All-BIG EAST honor is the third of her career, and second time on the first time with 2010-11. She was named to the second team in 2011-12 and was named All-Freshman in 2009-10. The Milton, Ontario native represents two of SU's eight all-time first-team honorees.

The 6-4 center was twice named BIG EAST Player of the Week this season, on Nov. 19 and Dec. 10, in addition to making the BIG EAST Honor Roll on five occasions (Nov. 26, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, Feb. 18, March 5). She was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team at the conference's media day in October, and was also a Senior CLASS Award nominee.

Alexander has rewritten the SU record book in her career with the Orange. She became SU's all-time leading scorer on Jan. 26 at Villanova, passing Nicole Michael's mark of 1,787 points. She heads into the BIG EAST Tournament with 1,953 points, third most among active players in the conference. She is also the Orange's all-time leader in blocks (348), field goals (711), free throws made (531), games played (137, tied with Hall), and ranks second in rebounds (941).

Alexander ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (17.3 ppg), third in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and leads the BIG EAST in blocks at 3.2 per game. She has 11 double-doubles this season, running her career total to 30, the most among active BIG EAST players.

Tyson-Thomas is the first Syracuse player to win the sixth-man award, which began in the 2007-08 season. After starting in 29 games a season ago, the 5-9 guard moved to a new role of coming off the bench first for Hillsman's squad, but didn't see any drop in her production. In fact, after scoring 10.7 points per game as a junior, she is scoring 10.9 per game this season to go along with 6.4 rebounds, both second on the team behind Alexander. She is also contributing 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per contest.

The Philadelphia native has been at her best in BIG EAST Conference play, averaging 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds in league games. She finished the regular season in stellar fashion, averaging 16.8 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last four games, including double-doubles in the final two games against Villanova and No. 13 Louisville, giving her three on the season.

Tyson-Thomas became the 22^nd player in Syracuse history to score 1,000 points in her career, passing the mark on Dec. 4 vs. Wagner. She enters the postseason with 1,204 career points and 890 rebounds, ranking 13^th and fifth, respectively, in SU history.

This is Tyson-Thomas' second BIG EAST end-of-the-season award. She was named to the All-Freshman Team in 2009-10.

Butler and Sykes are the first Orange players to take All-Freshman honors since Alexander and Tyson-Thomas accomplished the feat in 2009-10. Sykes was one of four unanimous selections.

All-Freshman Team honoree Sykes, a 5-9 guard, is averaging 9.4 points, 5-6 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game for the Orange, starting in 28 of 29 games. The athletic 2012 McDonald's All-American was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on Dec. 31 and Jan. 7, and was named to the honor roll on Jan. 28. Her 50-foot buzzer-beater to beat St. John's on Jan. 23 was the No. 1 Play of the Day on SportsCenter.

Butler, a 5-11 guard that has started all 29 games for the Orange, earns All-Freshman honors by posting 7.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest. The 2012 McDonald's and Parade All-American leads the Orange and ranks 10^th in the conference in 3-point field goals with 49. She scored a career-high 16 points in a win at Georgetown on Feb. 12.

The BIG EAST Player of the Year, BIG EAST Coach of the Year, BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and American Eagle Outfitters BIG EAST Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be announced on Friday, March 8, prior to Session I at 2 p.m. ET. The awards press conference will be streamed live on www.bigeast.org.

Third-seeded Syracuse, its highest seeding in 25 years, will play in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Championship in Hartford, Conn. on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU against the winner of No. 6 Villanova vs. No. 11 Georgetown/No. 14 Providence.

2012-13 BIG EAST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL POSTSEASON HONORS

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Kelly Faris, Connecticut, Sr., G

BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Carmen Tyson-Thomas, Syracuse, Sr., G

BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Kelly Faris, Connecticut, Sr., G
Brittany Hrynko, DePaul, So., G

BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Anna Martin, DePaul, Sr., G

All-BIG EAST First Team^
Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut, Jr., C
*Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut, So., F
Brittany Hrynko, DePaul, So., G
Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown, Sr., G
Shoni Schimmel, Louisville, Jr., G
Natalie Achonwa, Notre Dame, Jr., F
*Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame, Sr., G
Kayla McBride, Notre Dame, Jr., G
Nadirah McKenith, St. John's, Sr., G
Shenneika Smith, St. John's, Sr., G
*Andrea Smith, USF, Sr., G
Kayla Alexander, Syracuse, Sr., C

All-BIG EAST Second Team
Dayeesha Hollins, Cincinnati, R-Jr., G
Kelly Faris, Connecticut, Sr., G
Katherine Harry, DePaul, Sr., F
Anna Martin, DePaul, Sr. G
Antonita Slaughter, Louisville, Jr., G
Katherine Plouffe, Marquette, Jr., F
Symone Roberts, Providence, Sr., G
Brittany Morris, Seton Hall, Sr., G
Andrell Smith, USF, Sr., G
Laura Sweeney, Villanova, Sr., F

BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Bria Hartley, Connecticut, Jr., G
Breanna Stewart, Connecticut, Fr., F
Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Brianna Kiesel, Pittsburgh, So., G
Erica Wheeler, Rutgers, Sr., G

BIG EAST All-Freshman Team
Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut, Fr., G
*Breanna Stewart, Connecticut, Fr., F
Chanise Jenkins, DePaul, R-Fr., G
Brooklyn Pumroy, Marquette, Fr., G
*Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame, Fr., G
*Aliyyah Handford, St. John's, Fr., G
Kahleah Copper, Rutgers, Fr., G
Brianna Butler, Syracuse, Fr., G
*Brittney Sykes, Syracuse, Fr., G
Alisia Jenkins, USF, Fr., F

*Unanimous selection
^ Extra members added due to voting ties

Syracuse University Athletics

Alexander, Tyson-Thomas Lead All-BIG EAST Honorees

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