Little Rock's Sali Kourouma was named the 2022-23 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while UT Martin's Sharnecca Currie-Jelks was selected as the OVC Freshman of the Year as voted on by the league's head coaches and communication directors. Morehead State's Veronica Charles was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year while Coach of the Year honors went to Little Rock's Joe Foley
Kourouma, a native of Kati, Mali, earns her first Player of the Year honor. The redshirt junior forward finished the regular season leading the OVC with 17.8 points per game in conference play. She reached double-digits in points in all but two games she played including hitting a season-high 30 points versus Southeast Missouri. She brought down a season-best 19 boards in the second game against the Redhawks. The first team All-OVC pick also ranked second with 2.6 steals per game in league action.
A native of Jackson, Tenn., Currie-Jelks leads all freshman with 14.8 points per game this season. She has reached double-digits in her last 10 games heading into the OVC Tournament. The All-OVC First Team and All-Newcomer selection reached 20-plus points six times this season and recorded a season-high 30 points versus Southeast Missouri. Currie-Jelks finished the regular season second on the team with 27 blocks and third in steals with 36. She becomes the third Skyhawk to earn Freshman of the Year honors joining Heather Butler (2010-11), Asia Jones (2013-14) and Kendall Spray (2016-17).
Charles, a senior from Benue State, Nigeria, ranks eighth in the nation with a league-leading 87 total steals. She currently ranks second on the schools single season steals list. The All-OVC First Team and All-Newcomer selection also ranked among league leaders in scoring (13.3 ppg) and rebounds (5.7 rpg). Charles in the only player in the OVC this season to record 100 rebounds, 50 assists and 50 steals. She becomes the second Eagle to be named Defensive Player of the Year joining Ariel Kirkwood (2019-20) .
Foley, who is in his 20th season at the helm of Little Rock, was named the OVC Coach of the Year after leading his team to the regular season title. The Trojans became the first team in league history to win the title in its inaugural season. Little Rock recorded its 13th 20-win season in Foley's tenure. Little Rock ranks fourth in the NCAA in scoring defense, giving up just 51.4 points per game this season. The Trojans are also sixth in the country in three-point percentage defense (25.2%). This marks Foley's sixth conference coach of the year honor.
ALL-OVC
Joining Kourouma, Currie-Jelks and Charles as first team selections are Eastern Illinois sophomore forward Macy McGlone and senior guard Lariah Washington; Southeast Missouri sophomore guard Jaliyah Green; SIUE senior forward Ajulu Thatha; Southern Indiana senior forward Hannah Haithcock; Tennessee State graduate student guard Erica Haynes-Overton; and Tennessee Tech senior guard Maaliya Owens.
Making up the second team are Little Rock junior guard Tia Harvey; Morehead State junior guard Sandra Lin; Tennessee State sophomore guard Gia Adams; senior guard Jada Guinn; and UT Martin sophomore guard Shae Littleford.
In addition to Currie-Jelks and Charles earning All-Newcomer team honors are Eastern Illinois sophomore forward Mac McGlone; Little Rock sophomore guard Jaiyah Harris-Smith; and Tennessee State graduate student guard Erica Haynes-Overton.