COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.) was named preseason second-team All-SEC by the league's coaches, announced by the league office on Tuesday.
Blackwell produced one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in school history in 2019-20, as she made 24 starts in 31 games while averaging 15.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29.0 minutes per game. Among SEC ranks, Blackwell finished seventh in rebounding (7.3) and eighth in scoring (15.0), which both ranked second among SEC freshmen. She led Mizzou in scoring in 15 games and was one of just three freshman in program history to record eight or more 20-point games, joining Julie Helm (12, 1996-97) and Sophie Cunningham (10, 2015-16). Her seven double-doubles were the most by a Mizzou freshman since at least 2002-03.
For her debut performance in the Black & Gold, Blackwell was named to the All-SEC freshman team. Among freshmen program records, she ranked second in scoring (466), field goals made (155), free throws made (122), rebound average (7.3), third in rebounds (225), fourth in points per game (15.0), fifth in three-pointers made (34), assists (83) and 10th in blocks (19).
Blackwell and fellow freshman stand-out from a season ago, Hayley Frank, will join forces with a trio of talented transfers – Shug Dickson, Shannon Dufficy and LaDazhia Williams – to lead the Tigers this season. Frank was Mizzou's third-leading scorer (11.8 ppg) in 2019-20, while Dickson and Dufficy have both earned All-Conference honors at their previous institutions. Williams is a former five-star recruit who played at South Carolina for two seasons.
Mizzou was voted to finish 10th in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, ahead of Ole Miss, Florida, Vanderbilt and Auburn. The league's coaches picked South Carolina to win the conference, followed by Kentucky, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee and LSU in the top half of the league. Alabama and Georgia were picked to finish ahead of Mizzou in the bottom half.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
Preseason Coaches' Predictions
Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Kentucky
3. Texas A&M
4. Arkansas
5. Mississippi State
6. Tennessee
7. LSU
8. Alabama
9. Georgia
10. Mizzou
11. Ole Miss
12. Florida
13. Vanderbilt
14. Auburn
Player of the Year
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
First Team All-SEC
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Khayla Pointer, LSU
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
N'dea Jones, Texas A&M
Second Team All-SEC
Jasmine Walker, Alabama
Destiny Slocum, Arkansas
Lavender Briggs, Florida
Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Aijha Blackwell, Mizzou
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Kayla Wells, Texas A&M