NEW HAVEN, Conn. (February 28, 2023) -- Thomas Jefferson University standout Haley Meinel on Tuesday took home a pair of major awards as she was named both the 2022-23 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Basketball Player and Defensive Player of the Year, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. Meinel's awards highlighted a lengthy list of honorees on Tuesday, as the voting for the awards was conducted by the league's 13 head coaches in the sport.

Joining Meinel was Holy Family University's Skyler Searfoss (CACC Rookie of the Year) and Jefferson's Tom Shirley (CACC Coach of the Year). Wilmington University was tabbed as the CACC Team Sportsmanship Award winner.

Meinel was a force at both ends of the court this season in leading Jefferson to a top-10 national ranking, the CACC South Division Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in this week's conference tournament. She is averaging 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Meinel ranks fourth in the league in scoring and her 177 field goals made tops the CACC. She scored in double-figures in all but three games and enters the postseason scoring 20 points each in back-to-back games. Meinel leads the CACC with 97 steals and ranks fifth with 30 blocks. She ranks third in NCAA Division II with 3.46 thefts an outing. Meinel also garnered a spot on the All-CACC First Team.

Searfoss has had a terrific debut season at the collegiate level as she helped lead HFU to the second seed in the South Division in this week's conference tournament, and a regional ranking in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Poll. She is averaging 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, while ranking third in the league in field goal percentage (52%). Her 80 assists is the eighth-best mark in the CACC. Searfoss was also placed on the All-CACC Second Team.

Tom Shirley earned the league's top coaching award after leading Jefferson to 25-3 record during the regular season and a 16-1 mark in conference play. The Rams rank in the top 10 in the national polls, and is second in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Poll.

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Presented by College Ave Student Loans)
Haley Meinel (Thomas Jefferson University)

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Skyler Searfoss (Holy Family University)

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Haley Meinel (Thomas Jefferson University)

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
Tom Shirley (Thomas Jefferson University)

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Wilmington University

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Sha’Raya Haines (Post University)
Briana Lee (Felician University)
Haley Meinel (Thomas Jefferson University)
Tanasha Mills (Dominican University)
Morgan Robinson (Thomas Jefferson University)

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Alexis Harrison (Goldey-Beacom College)
Cassie Murphy (Thomas Jefferson University)
Casey O’Shaughnessy (Caldwell University)
Carolyn Prevost (Holy Family University)
Skyler Searfoss (Holy Family University)

2022-23 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
Emily Chmiel (Chestnut Hill College)
Savawn Hughes (Georgian Court University)
Stephanie McBride (University of Bridgeport)
Amani Melendez (University of Bridgeport)
Sam Yencha (Thomas Jefferson University)

ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 13 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Alliance University, Bloomfield College, University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican (N.Y.) University, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.