UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – Saginaw Valley State University senior Kaitlyn Zarycki was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year when the league office announced Friday afternoon. Zarycki is the first Cardinal to win the award since Emily Wendling in 2016 and the fourth league player of the year in program history. In addition, she was awarded first-team and all-defensive team honors.
Tori DePerry and Saniaa Walker also picked up GLIAC awards for the women's team. DePerry joined Zarycki on the first team while Walker joined her on the all-defensive team.
Zarycki averaged 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game over her senior campaign. She led the GLIAC in free throw percentage (90.8%), steals per game, and finished the season fourth in total points despite missing four games with a hand injury. Highlights from her immaculate regular season included breaking the single-game scoring record totaling 44 points on Senior Day over Davenport University and maintaining her current streak of 45 consecutive made free throws.
Amongst an abundance of awards, Coach Pruett acknowledged Zarycki's accomplishments saying, "Z has been our steady hand throughout her four years as a Cardinal. Her tireless work ethic and will to win are unmatched. She never complains, is never tired, and is one of the best teammates you could ask for. She has seen success on the First Team and All-Defensive team throughout her 4 years in the GLIAC, but the Player of the Year is an honor that brings tears to my eyes. She is one of the hardest-working people I have ever coached, and she deserves this honor more than anything. I am proud of the player she has become but more important I am proud of the woman she has become. This whole team is behind her, and we could not be more proud."
DePerry averaged 16.9 points and 8 rebounds a game in her final season as a Cardinal. She was fifth overall in the conference in points scored (460) and was also fifth in the conference for rebounds (225). Highlights from the season came from an outstanding 31-point, career-high, performance against Michigan Tech.
Coach Pruett had this to say about DePerry, "Tori has worked extremely hard over the past four years to get to where she is today. She has been locked in and focused throughout this entire season and that mindset is what got her a First Team All GLIAC honor. T is the player you hate to play against in practice, but love to have on your side when you go into battle. She makes everyone else around her better by her positive attitude and her determination to get better every day. I am so incredibly proud of her achievements this year and in her career."
Walker was a force on the defensive side of the ball, she finished seventh in the league in steals per game with 1.6, and sixth overall with 46 steals on the season. She locked down opposing ball handlers and spearheaded the Cardinals' full-court press defense. Her season highlight came from a six-steal performance against Northwood University on November 11.
When asked about Walker's all-defensive team award Coach Pruett offered these words, "Saniaa was recruited as a defensive specialist, and she has taken that role and soared. She leads our team with her defensive energy, always guarding one of the best players on the opposite team. I am so proud of the way she has matured in her role this year. She brings so much to our team, and I could not be happier for her accomplishment"