SAN MATEO, Calif. ­­– Five members of the Gonzaga women's basketball team were named to the 2021 All-West Coast Conference Team, the conference office announced Tuesday. Jenn Wirth was named Player of the Year, becoming the second-straight Zag and third in the last four seasons to earn the honor after Jill Townsend was selected in 2020 in addition to Jill Barta in 2018. Wirth was also selected to the All-WCC First Team.
 
Townsend was also selected to the First Team, the third All-WCC honor of her career, while junior Melody Kempton was selected as the first-ever Sixth Woman of the Year. Kempton, along with LeeAnne Wirth and Kayleigh Truong, were tabbed as All-WCC Honorable Mention. It's the first career All-WCC honor for both Kempton and LeeAnne Wirth, while it is the second honor for Truong after earning All-Freshman honors a season ago.
 
"I'm really happy for our players," Head Coach Lisa Fortier said. "I know that they are most interested in how we do as a team, and the quest to be our best, but it is always an honor to be recognized for their contributions to our team's success."
 
Jenn Wirth took home the 10th Player of the Year award in program history and the second-straight, while earning her second-straight First Team selection as well. This season, Wirth has started all 24 games at forward for the Zags, averaging 13.2 points per game shooting a team- and conference-leading 56.7 percent from the floor. She also ranks third in the conference in rebounding with 8.42 per contest, and she ranks second in the conference with nine double-doubles on the season. The Mesa, Ariz., native was twice selected as the WCC Player of the Week this season, and she has scored in double-figures 17 times on the season with two 20+ scoring efforts, including a career-high 26 against Pacific on Jan. 4.
 
Townsend picked up her second-straight All-WCC First Team selection after earning Player of the Year and First Team honors in 2020. Through 24 games, the senior leads the Zags in scoring at 13.8 points per game, ranking seventh in the WCC, while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor to rank second on the squad and fourth in the conference. Townsend adds 4.92 rebounds per game and 2.50 assists per contest, both ranking inside the top 20 in the conference. The Okanogan, Wash., native has scored in double-figures 17 times on the season with five 20+ point scoring efforts, including a career-high 29 points at South Dakota State on Dec. 6.
 
Kempton, who earned her first career All-WCC nod, was selected as the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year as the award was introduced by the WCC this season. The Post Falls, Idaho, native was the first off the bench for the Zags and ranked fifth in scoring at 7.0 points per game and fourth in rebounding at 3.7 in 18.3 minutes played. She reached double-figures six times on the season with a season-high 13 coming against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 20.
 
LeeAnne Wirth earned her first career All-WCC recognition as she was named All-WCC Honorable Mention. Wirth ranked third on the squad in scoring at 8.9 points per game and second in rebounding with 5.8 per outing. The Mesa, Ariz., native shot 55.8 percent from the floor and 82.9 percent from the free throw line this season, and she reached double-figures 11 times, with a season-high 16 coming against Pepperdine on Feb. 25.
 
Kayleigh Truong earned her second-straight All-WCC honor as she was selected All-WCC Honorable Mention after taking home WCC All-Freshman honors a season ago. Truong led the Zags and ranked third in the conference with 4.25 assists per contest, logging 12 games with at least five assists. Truong dished out a career-high nine assists at Saint Mary's, a game after delivering a then-career-high eight assists at Pacific. The Houston, Texas, native ranked fourth on the team in scoring at 8.1 points per contest and leads the team in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.88. She also reached double-figures seven times this season.
 
BYU redshirt sophomore guard Shaylee Gonzales was selected Co-Player of the Year, while BYU's Jeff Judkins was named Coach of the Year. Pacific's Valerie Higgins was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year, while Ioanna Krimili of San Francisco was named the WCC Newcomer of the Year.
 
Seven of the 10 All-WCC First Team honorees earned a spot on the All-WCC Preseason squad. Five are repeats from the 2019-20 first team, including Portland's Alex Fowler, Higgins, Paisley Harding from BYU and Gonzaga's Jill Townsend and Wirth.
 
With the conclusion of the regular season, WCC teams head to Las Vegas to compete for the 2021 University Credit Union West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament. Action tips off Thursday, March 4 at the Orleans Arena. This year is the 13th WCC Tournament in Las Vegas.
 
2020-21 All-WCC Women's Basketball Major Individual Honors
Co-Player of the Year: Shaylee Gonzales, BYU; Jenn Wirth, Gonzaga
Coach of the Year: Jeff Judkins, BYU
Defensive Player of the Year: Valerie Higgins, Pacific
Newcomer of the Year: Ioanna Krimili, San Francisco
Sixth Woman of the Year: Melody Kempton, Gonzaga
 

2020-21 All-WCC Women's Basketball First Team
Name	Yr.	Pos.	School
Haylee Andrews	Jr.	G	Portland
Jordyn Edwards	Sr.	G	San Diego
Alex Fowler	So.	F	Portland
Shaylee Gonzales	So.	G	BYU
Lauren Gustin	So.	F	BYU
Paisley Harding	Sr.	G	BYU
Valerie Higgins	Sr.	G	Pacific
Ioanna Krimili	Fr.	G	San Francisco
Jill Townsend	Sr.	G	Gonzaga
Jenn Wirth	Sr.	F	Gonzaga

 

2020-21 All-WCC Women's Basketball Second Team
Name	Yr.	Pos.	School
Lucie Hoskova	Sr.	G	San Francisco
Ariel Johnson	Jr.	G	LMU
Myah Pace	Sr.	G	San Diego
Lindsey VanAllen	Jr.	G	Santa Clara
Merle Wiehl	Sr.	F	Santa Clara

 

2020-21 All-WCC Women's Basketball Freshman Team
Name	Pos.	School
Erica Adams	G	Pacific
Ellie Croco	F	Saint Mary's
Ashley Hiraki	G	Santa Clara
Ioanna Krimili	G	San Francisco
Emme Shearer	G	Portland

 

2020-21 WCC Women's Basketball Honorable Mention Selections
Name	Yr.	Pos.	School
Malia Bambrick	Jr.	G	Pepperdine
Tegan Graham	Sr.	G	BYU
Sara Hamson	Sr.	C	BYU
Ashlyn Herlihy	Sr.	F	Santa Clara
Madeline Holland	Sr.	G/F	Saint Mary's
Sydney Hunter	Sr.	G	San Diego
Melody Kempton	Jr.	F	Gonzaga
Brooklyn McDavid	Sr.	F	Pacific
Lianna Tillman	Sr.	G	Pacific
Kayleigh Truong	So.	G	Gonzaga
Taycee Wedin	Jr.	G	Saint Mary's
LeeAnne Wirth	Sr.	F	Gonzaga