From news services

Washington State junior Bella Murekatete was named the inaugural Pac-12 Conference Most Improved Player of the Year on Tuesday, sharing the honors with Southern California's Jordan Jenkins.

Murekatete, a 6-foot-3 center from Genesis Prep Academy in Post Falls, is the first-known Rwandan-born player in NCAA women's college basketball. She posted career highs in nearly every category this season. Murekatete is averaging 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Entering the 2021-22 season, she averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 53 career games and has been ranked in the top 10 in blocks and rebounds in the conference all season. Her 203 rebounds are the third-most in the conference this season, while her 48 blocks are fourth. She reached double digits in rebounds five times this season, with a career-best 15 against Northern Arizona on Nov. 12, 2021.

Murekatete has scored in double figures in 16 of her 28 games this season, opening the season with a career-high 22 points against San Jose State on Nov. 9.

She is one of three Washington State players to earn all-conference honors this season. Sophomore Charlisse Leger-Walker earned her second straight all-conference honor, while fifth-year senior Krystal Leger-Walker was named honorable mention and all-conference defensive team honorable mention.

Charlisse Leger-Walker becomes the fourth WSU player to earn multiple all-conference accolades and leads the Cougars in scoring at 16.3 points per game, which is fourth best in the conference.

Krystal Leger-Walker finished with 131 assists, which ties her with Jenni Ruff (131; 1993-94) for eight-most in a single season. Her 4.7 assists per game are the second-most in the conference this season, and her 45 steals was seventh most.

ALL-PAC 12 CONFERENCE

Player of the Year — Haley Jones, Stanford

Defensive Player of the Year — Cameron Brink, Stanford

Freshman of the Year — Gianna Kneepkens, Utah

Sixth Player of the Year — Quay Miller, Colorado

Most Improved Player of the Year — Jordyn Jenkins, Southern California; Bella Murekatete, Washington State.

John R. Wooden Pac-12 Coach of the Year — Tara VanDerveer, Stanford

ALL PAC-12

Cameron Brink, so., forward, Stanford; Mya Hollingshed, sr., forward, Colorado; Lexie Hull, sr., guard, Stanford; Jordyn Jenkins, so., forward, Southern California; Hailey Jones, jr., guard, Stanford; Gianna Kneepkens, fr., guard, Utah; Charlisse Leger-Walker, so., guard, Washington State; Jade Loville, sr., guard, Arizona State; Charisma Osborne, jr., guard, UCLA; Te-Hina Paopao, so., guard, Oregon; Cate Reese, sr., forward, Arizona; Endyia Rogers, jr., guard, Oregon; Nyara Sabally, redshirt jr., forward, Oregon; IImar'I Thomas, senior, forward, UCLA; Talia von Oelhoffen, fr., guard, Oregon State.

Honorable mention: Jayda Curry, California; Krystal Leger-Walker, Washington State; Kennady McQueen, Utah; Quay Miller, Colorado; Nancy Mulkey, Washington; Jordan Sanders, Southern California; Sam Thomas, Arizona; Haley Van Dyke, Washington.

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Cameron Brink, so., forward, Stanford; Lexie Hull, sr., guard, Stanford; Sam Thomas, graduate senior, guard, Arizona; Kindyll Wetta, fr., guard, Colorado; Anna Wilson, senior, guard, Stanford.

Honorable mention: Taya Corosdale, Oregon State; Mael Gilles, Arizona State; Krystal Leger-Walker, Washington State; Rayah Marshall, Southern California; Leilani McIntosh, California; Nancy Mulkey, Washington; Charisma Osborne, UCLA; Helena Pueyo, Arizona; Jordan Sanders, Southern California; Maddie Scherr, Oregon; Haley Van Dyke, Washington.

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Jayda Curry, guard, California; Jenna Johnson, forward, Utah; Gianna Kneepkens, guard, Utah; Rayah Marshall, guard/forward, Southern California; Kindyll Wetta, guard, Colorado.

Honorable mention: Izzy Anstey, UCLA; Kiki Iriafen, Stanford; Greta Kampschroeder, Oregon State.