BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference announced its annual awards for women’s basketball following the 2023-24 season, as voted by the conference’s head coaches.
Valdosta State junior Kalifa Ford headlined the individual accolades as she was named GSC Player of the Year. Montevallo freshman Cali Smallwood garnered Freshman of the Year honorees, while Valdosta State’s Deandra Schirmer took home Coach of the Year.
In all-conference voting, the regular season champs, Valdosta State led the way with three All-GSC selections. Union followed with two, while Auburn Montgomery, Lee, Montevallo, West Florida, and West Georgia had one honoree apiece. The 2023-24 selections also featured several new faces with four of ten awardees having earned All-GSC accolades before.
Ford was voted as the conference’s top player after averaging 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. The junior forward knocked down 49 percent (146-of-297) of her field goals, including a 35 percent rate (15-of-43) from behind the perimeter. The Bono, Arkansas native is ranked fourth in the conference in points per game, second in field goal percentage, and fifth in steals. Ford is the first Valdosta State women’s Player of the Year award winner since Kwajelin Farrar won it in 2020-21.
Smallwood earned the conference’s Freshman of the Year award after averaging 12.4 points and 6.1 boards per game. The rookie converted 40 percent (112-of-281) of her field goals and 35 percent (64-of-182) of her three-pointers. Smallwood was eighth in the conference in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and fourth in three-point field goal percentage. The Blountsville, Alabama native recorded four double-doubles on the season and became Montevallo’s first Freshman of the Year recipient since 2019 when her teammate Marisa Snodgrass earned the award.
Schirmer claimed her second GSC Coach of the Year award and first since 2020-21. Schirmer led Valdosta State to its _ 23-1 conference record and a 26-2 record overall. The Lady Blazers set a school record with 23 straight regular season wins and hold the longest active win streak in Division II. Valdosta State was solid on both ends of the floor, leading the conference in scoring defense (53.8) and second in scoring offense (72.8). Schirmer became just the second coach in Valdosta State history to earn the GSC Coach of the Year twice in a career joining Kiley Hill who won it in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
2023-24 GSC Women’s Basketball Awards
Player of the Year: Kalifa Ford, Valdosta State
Freshman of the Year: Cali Smallwood, Montevallo
Coach of the Year: Deandra Schirmer, Valdosta State
First Team All-GSC
Kalifa Ford, Valdosta State
Mallory Hampton, Lee
Shanique Lucas, Union*
Allasha Dudley, Auburn Montgomery
Macey Lee, Union
Second Team All-GSC
Zuriyah Davis, West Georgia
Taylor Searcey, Valdosta State
Marisa Snodgrass, Montevallo*
Brooke Kane, West Florida
Aleisha Curry, Valdosta State
* Previous First Team All-GSC selection
# Previous Second Team All-GSC selection