Breen and Philoxy Earn Atlantic 10 Postseason Accolades

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – University of Massachusetts senior forward Sam Breen and junior guard Destiney Philoxy have been named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team, the league office announced on Tuesday. Breen was placed on the First Team and Philoxy the Second Team, while Breen additionally was tabbed to the All-Academic Team.

A two-time A-10 Player of the Week, Breen started every regular season game going on to rank as the third-leading scorer in the conference (17.3 ppg) and second in rebounding (10.5 rpg). The co-captain was one of just three players in the league to average a double-double and led the league with 12 such performances. Breen had 19 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in a January 10 win over Fordham, the first for UMass since 2010. She also pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds in the Feb. 28 win vs. Richmond, the most by a Minutewoman since the 2017-18 season.

Breen, a native of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, is pursuing graduate studies in Learning, Media and Technology and previously completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology.

One of the most talented ball distributors in the country, Philoxy ranks No. 3 across Division I in assists per game (6.9) and comfortably leads the league by more than two dimes on the next closest player. Just as valuable a scorer, the Queens, New York product contributes 11.2 points per game to go with a 3.9 rebounding average. Nine different games saw Philoxy score in double figures, highlighted by a 20-point showing vs. Rhode Island on Jan. 5.

She had eight games with eight or more assists, including 10 at La Salle (Jan. 3) and 11 vs. Davidson (Jan. 8). It made Philoxy the first Minutewoman since Megan Zullo in 2010-11 to have multiple games with 10-plus assists in the same season. The Jan. 8 Davidson game also saw Philoxy contribute 13 points for her first career double-double.

Massachusetts is seeded No. 7 in the 2021 Atlantic 10 Championship presented by Air Force Reserve. With a bye to the Second Round, the Minutewomen meet 10th-seeded Saint Joseph's on Thu., March 11 in a 5 p.m. game on ESPN+ at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

Follow UMass women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UMassWBB) for the latest news and updates around the team.

2020-21 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Awards
Co-Players of the Year: Anna DeWolfe, Fordham / Emmanuelle Tahane, Rhode Island
Defensive Player of the Year: Araion Bradshaw, Dayton
Rookie of the Year: Addie Budnik, Richmond
Most Improved Player: Jenna Giacone, Dayton
Sixth Woman of the Year: Tenin Magassa, Dayton
Coach of the Year: Tammi Reiss, Rhode Island

All-Conference First Team
Jenna Giacone, Dayton
Anna DeWolfe, Fordham
Sam Breen, Massachusetts
Emmanuelle Tahane, Rhode Island
Ciaja Harbison, Saint Louis
Taya Robinson, VCU

All-Conference Second Team
Erin Whalen, Dayton
Kendell Heremaia, Fordham
Kayla Spruill, La Salle
Destiney Philoxy, Massachusetts
Marie-Paule Foppossi, Rhode Island
Kate Klimkiewicz, Richmond

All-Conference Third Team
Araion Bradshaw, Dayton
Kaitlyn Downey, Fordham
Claire Jacobs, La Salle
Asianae Johnson, St. Bonaventure
Brooke Flowers, Saint Louis
Tera Reed, VCU

All-Defensive Team
Ararion Bradshaw, Dayton
Taya Robinson, VCU
Brooke Flowers, Saint Louis
Ciaja Harbison, Saint Louis
Jasmine Whitney, George Washington

All-Rookie Team
Tenin Magassa, Dayton
Ali Brigham, George Washington
Catherine Cairns, Rhode Island
Addie Budnik, Richmond
Sarah Te-Biasu, VCU

All-Academic Team
Erin Whalen, Dayton
Kaitlyn Downey, Fordham
Anna DeWolfe, Fordham
Sam Breen, Massachusetts
Emmanuelle Tahane, Rhode Island

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Sam Breen

Destiney Philoxy

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics