Flores Headlines Well-Represented Rice on American Awards

IRVING – The Rice women's basketball team garnered several major awards and all-conference spots on the 2025-26 American Conference Postseason Awards, the league announced Monday morning. Awards are voted on by the conference coaches, who may not vote for their own teams.

Victoria Flores earned the biggest honor, being tabbed the American Conference Player of the Year. Shelby Hayes was awarded the league's Most Improved Player, while Louann Battiston was named the Sixth Player of the Year. Hailey Adams received the conference's Ambassador Award, while Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds was the unanimous Coach of the Year.

On the All-Conference teams, Flores and Dominique Ennis were both selected as First Team honorees, while Hayes received Third Team recognition. Battiston was named to the All-Newcomer Team, while Adams earned All-Defensive Team accolades.

Flores was named Player of the Year after leading the Owls throughout conference play, averaging 14.1 points per game, shooting 38% from the floor, 35% from three, and 90% at the free throw line. She has surpassed double-digit points 12 times, 20+ points five times and had a career-high 33 points on the road at UTSA. Flores also averaged 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game in league play.

Hayes had tremendous growth from her junior to senior seasons to earn the Most Improved Player Award. Hayes is averaging 12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists. 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game, an 8-point improvement in the points per game average and a 3-rebound improvement per game from last year to this year. Hayes has been shooting an incredible 53% from the floor and 80% from the free throw line.

Battiston has provided an instant spark off the bench in each game this season to earn the Sixth Player of the Year award. Battiston averages 6.7 points per game and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 40.2% from the floor and 37.2% from three-point range, while also adding an 83.8% clip at the free throw line. In conference play, Battiston has dropped 7.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 rebounds per game.

Adams has proved to be among the league's best players, leading the Owls in conference play in rebounds (192), rebounds per game (10.7), assists (59), assists per game (3.6), blocks (26) and blocks per game (1.6). Adams sits atop the league in blocks and blocks per game, while being second in rebounds, defensive rebounds per game, and rebounds per game to secure a spot on the All-Defensive Team.

In addition to her on-court success, Adams also received the league's Ambassador Award, which recognizes sportsmanship, ethical behavior, fair play, integrity and community service. Adams worked with the B.I.G. Love organization, helping the fight against pediatric cancer, organizing a basketball clinic for several children and their families. For her senior project, Adams is also working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help create a prosthetic arm for a child. Adams was also one of 64 women's basketball athletes to be named a Kay Yow Servant Leader Award winner for this season,

Ennis earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team after averaging 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season, shooting 40% from the floor and 36% from three-point range. In conference play, Ennis averages 14.4 points per game, which ranks 9th in the American, while her 40% three-point percentage sits second in the conference.

Edmonds was named the unanimous Coach of the Year after guiding the Owls to their fifth regular-season title in program history. Rice will enter the conference tournament with a 27-4 (17-1 American) mark, which saw a program-record 22-game win streak.

2025-26 American Conference Awards
Player of the Year
Victoria Flores, Jr., G, Rice

Defensive Player of the Year
Kennedy Fauntleroy, Sr., G, East Carolina
Megan Nestor, Sr., F, North Texas

Freshman of the Year
Mecailin Marshall, Fr., G, Tulane

Most Improved Player
Shelby Hayes, Sr., C, Rice

Sixth Player of the Year
Louann Battiston, Jr., G, Rice

Newcomer of the Year
Kennedy Fauntleroy, Sr., G, East Carolina

Ambassador Award
Hailey Adams, R-Jr., G, Rice

Coach of the Year
Lindsay Edmonds, Rice*

First Team All-Conference
Kennedy Fauntleroy, Sr., G, East Carolina
Megan Nestor, Sr., F, North Texas
Victoria Flores, Jr., G, Rice
Dominique Ennis, Sr., G, Rice
Hannah Riddick, R-Sr., F, Tulsa

Second Team All-Conference
Aysia Proctor, Jr., G, North Texas
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Jr., G, Temple
Cheyenne Rowe, Sr., F, UTSA
Mady Cartwright, Jr., G, Tulsa

Third Team All-Conference
Princess Anderson, Sr., G, Charlotte
Keanna Rembert, East Carolina
Shelby Hayes, Sr., C, Rice
Edyn Battle, Gr., G, South Florida
Stefanie Ingram, R-Jr., G, South Florida

All-Newcomer Team
Tanajah Hayes, Gr., G, Charlotte
Kennedy Fauntleroy, Sr., G, East Carolina*
Daejah Richmond, Jr., G, Memphis
Megan Nestor, Sr., F, North Texas*
Louann Battiston, Jr., G, Rice
Edyn Battle, Gr., G, South Florida
Katie Davidson, Gr., G, South Florida
Saniyah Craig, Jr., F, Temple
Kanija Daniel, Jr., G, Tulane
Mecailin Marshall, G, Tulane
Dora Toman, Fr., G, Tulsa

All-Defensive Team
Kennedy Fauntleroy, Sr., G, East Carolina
Daejah Richmond, Jr., G, Memphis
Megan Nestor, Sr., F, North Texas
Hailey Adams, R-Jr., G, Rice
Cheyenne Rowe, Sr., F, UTSA

*denotes unanimous selection

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