PHILADELPHIA – Saint Joseph's juniors Gabby Casey and Aleah Snead were named to the All-Big 5 Team, the organization announced Tuesday.
 
Casey was named Big 5 Most Improved Player for the second consecutive season and earned First Team honors for the first time in her career. Snead collected Second Team recognition following a career-best season.
 
Casey, who also earned Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player honors, started all 29 games and led the Hawks with 15.7 points per game while adding 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals. She shot 47.1% from the field and 40.5% from 3-point range, becoming one of four players nationally to average at least 15 points, six rebounds and three assists while shooting 45% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
 
The Quakertown, Pennsylvania, native more than doubled her scoring output from last season, increasing from 7.7 to 15.7 points per game. She also improved across the board, raising her rebounding average (4.4 to 6.4) and assists (2.2 to 3.1), while scoring in double figures 23 times after doing so 15 times over her first two seasons combined.
 
Snead started all 31 games and ranked second on the team with 11.6 points per game, adding 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists (98 total) along with 39 steals. The Philadelphia native recorded three double-doubles, including in back-to-back games against Drexel and Penn. She capped her season with a 23-point, five-steal performance in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals against Davidson.
 
The honor marks Snead's first Big 5 postseason accolade.
 
 
Philadelphia Big 5 Women's Basketball Award Winners
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova (Sophomore, Guard)
 
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Kennedy Henry, Villanova (Freshman, Guard)
 
COACH OF THE YEAR
Denise Dillon, Villanova
 
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Gabby Casey, Saint Joseph's (Junior, Guard)
 
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Grace O'Neill, Drexel (Senior, Guard)
 
LEADING SCORER
Jasmine Bascoe, Drexel (Sophomore, Guard) 18.9 ppg.
 
LEADING FREE THROW SHOOTER
Simone Sawyer, Penn (Senior, guard) 88.1 percent (76-84)
 
ALL-BIG 5 FIRST TEAM
Amaris Baker, Drexel
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova
Gabby Casey, Saint Joseph's
Kate Collins, Penn
Ashleigh Connor, La Salle
Kaylah Turner, Temple
 
ALL-BIG 5 SECOND TEAM
Denae Carter, Villanova
Kennedy Henry, Villanova
Aryss Macktooon, La Salle
Brynn McCurry, Villanova
Laine McGurk, Drexel
Aleah Snead, Saint Joseph's