After putting together a dominant regular season, which included only one loss, the coaches voted to honor Cal State Dominguez Hills with four of the CCAA's five special awards for the 2022-23 season.
The CCAA Player of the Year, presented by College Ave Student Loans, went to
Dawnyel Lair, and she was also voted CCAA Defensive Player of the Year. Her teammate
Nala Williams was selected as the Freshman of the Year, and the Toros'
John Bonner was named CCAA Coach of the Year. Chico State's
Brandy Huffhines earned Newcomer of the Year honors.
Dawnyel Lair was the top offensive and defensive threat for a Cal State Dominguez Hills team that went 27-1 on the season and 21-1 in CCAA play. She leads the conference with 8.8 rebounds per game and ranks fourth with 14.6 points per game. The Los Angeles native scored double-figures in 21 of 24 games and ranks sixth in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage (.614). She also ranks second in the CCAA assists (4.5) and is tied for first in double-doubles (10).
The senior guard also stepped up in some of the season's biggest games. She finished just an assist shy of a triple-double against No. 14 Alaska Anchorage and had a game-saving block as time expired against No. 18 Cal State San Marcos after scoring 24 points. She was a four-time CCAA Player of the Week and was selected as the D2CIDA National Player of the Week for Jan. 9-15. Lair is the first Toro to win CCAA Player of the Year honors since Faye Hagan captured the award in back-to-back seasons in 1994-95 and 1995-96.
Nala Williams' smooth transition from playing high school last year into the CCAA was a big part of the Toros' championship run. During her freshman campaign, she started every game for CSUDH, posting 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. Williams shot .382 percent from behind the arc and led the Toros with 42 made 3-pointers. The Long Beach native scored double-figures in 20 games, including a season-high 22 points on the road at Cal Poly Pomona. This is the first CCAA Freshman of the Year honor for Cal State Dominguez Hills since Brigayle Igelhart in 2006-07.
The person most responsible for assembling this great Toros' team,
John Bonner, was recognized for his outstanding season as he was a near-unanimous selection for CCAA Coach of the Year honors. Bonner guided Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 19-game winning streak to begin the year and another eight-game run to close the season. During its opening-season run, CSUDH went from unranked to a top 5 team in the country. The Toros took control of the top of the CCAA standings and never let it go en route to the program's first regular-season championship since 2015-16.
The stats also tell the story and show the pathway of success for coach Bonner and Dominguez Hills. The Toros rank second in NCAA Division II with 25.36 free throw attempts per game (5th made FTs, 16.68) and 13th in rebounding margin (7.8). They are also 12th in scoring (78.0 ppg) and seventh in steals (7.9). Bonner is Cal State Dominguez Hills' first CCAA Coach of the Year since Van Girard in 1996-97.
Brandy Huffhines from Chico State was named the CCAA Newcomer of the Year, preventing a Toros' sweep of this year's special honors. Huffhines transferred to Chico from Long Beach State before the year and immediately became one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference. The junior guard shot .395 percent from deep and knocked down 47 triples. She hit a 3-pointer in 24 of 28 games and posted 20 or more points three times. Huffhines hit five 3-pointers against Cal Poly Humboldt and registered a season-best 23 points. She is the first Wildcat to win the honor since the award was instituted in 2006-07.
Cal State San Marcos led the CCAA with three first-team selections.
Dynnah Buckner,
Kelsey Forrester, and
Jordan Vasquez represented the Cougars on the first team, and Mina Tameilau picked up second-team honors. All four were repeat selections from last year. Seven of the 10 first team all-conference members were repeat selections from last season.
The 2022-23 CCAA Basketball Tournament begins Thursday, Mar. 2, in Turlock. No. 3 seed Cal State LA will take on No. 6 seed Sonoma State in the first women's game of the day at 5:30 p.m. The 4/5 matchup will follow at 8 p.m. when Cal Poly Pomona faces Chico State.
Complete 2022-23 All-CCAA Women's Basketball Team
| 22022-23 CCAA Women's Basketball All-Conference Team |
| Player of the Year |
Dawnyel Lair, Cal State Dominguez Hills |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Dawnyel Lair, Cal State Dominguez Hills |
| Newcomer of the Year |
Brandy Huffhines, Chico State |
| Freshman of the Year |
Nala Williams, Cal State Dominguez Hills |
| Coach of the Year |
John Bonner, Cal State Dominguez Hills |
| All-CCAA First Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Ally Bates - % |
Sr. |
G |
Cal Poly Pomona |
Melbourne, Australia |
| Dynnah Buckner - % |
Sr. |
G |
Cal State San Marcos |
Rialto |
| Lily Buggs - % |
So. |
G |
Cal State LA |
Long Beach |
| Nicole Flennaugh - % |
Jr. |
G |
Cal State LA |
Portland |
| Kelsey Forrester - & |
Sr. |
G |
Cal State San Marcos |
Davis |
| Asia Jordan - % |
So. |
F |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
Lakewood |
| Dawnyel Lair |
Sr. |
G |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
Los Angeles |
| Alli McDonald |
So. |
F |
Sonoma State |
Diamond Springs |
| Madison Parry - % |
So. |
F |
Cal Poly Humboldt |
Newcastle |
| Jordan Vasquez - % |
Jr. |
F |
Cal State San Marcos |
Moreno Valley |
| All-CCAA Second Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Mya Blake - # |
So. |
G |
San Francisco State |
Stockton |
| Zhane Duckett - & |
Jr. |
G |
Chico State |
Oakland |
| Brandy Huffhines |
Jr. |
G |
Chico State |
Rio Linda |
| Destiny Jackson - # |
Jr. |
G |
Cal State San Bernardino |
Hayward |
| Alicia Jones |
Jr. |
G |
Cal Poly Pomona |
Modesto |
| Delia Moore - & |
Sr. |
G |
Cal State East Bay |
Merced |
| Jaela Richardson |
Jr. |
F |
Cal State East Bay |
Saginaw, Mich. |
| Makayla Rose |
Fr. |
G |
Stanislaus State |
Roseville |
| Mina Tameilau - & |
Jr. |
F |
Cal State San Marcos |
Redwood City |
| Nala Williams |
Fr. |
G |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
Long Beach |
| Honorable Mentions |
| Joe'l Benoit (CSUDH), Danyell Booker (CSUDH), Grace Campbell (CSUEB), Mia Dufresne (CSUSB), Charity Gallegos (CSUSM), Cielo Gonzalez (SSU), Haley Ison (CHICO), Jada Johnson (CSLA), Amanda Luckett (SSU), Mikayla Mabie (CSUMB), Myli Martinez (CHICO). |
| % - 2021-22 All-CCAA First Team Selection; &- 2021-22 All-CCAA Second Team Selection; # - 2021-22 Honorable Mention |