DETROIT (3/17/2020) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball program and head coach Bernard Scott has announced the team awards and honors following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

Defensive Player of the Year -- Zoey Oatis
The team's lone senior in 2019-20, Zoey Oatis (Detroit, Mich.) was a standout on the defensive end of the court once again during her final season in the red, white and blue. She earned the team's Defensive Player of the Year honor for the second-straight season. Oatis led the team in steals (42) and blocks (20), as well as rebounding (5.6 boards per game).

Oatis finished tied for 10th in the league in total blocks and ranked sixth in steals among league players. She was one of five players in the Horizon League to rank in the top-15 in both blocks and steals in the league rankings -the second-straight season she achieved that feat. Oatis had 14 blocks in 18 league games, which also ranked her 10th overall in the category in blocks per game (0.8). Oatis' 5.6 boards per game was also top-15 in the conference.

Overall in her Titan career, Oatis played in 98 games and finished with more than 350 rebounds, 122 total steals and 51 blocks. She accumulated 121 of the 122 steals in her final three seasons with Detroit Mercy, totaling 40 or more in each of the past two seasons and leading the team in steals all three seasons. Her 20 blocks in 2019-20 were a career-high.

Freshman of the Year -- Sylare Starks
Freshman guard Sylare Starks (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was named the five-member 2019-20 Horizon League All-Freshman Team at year's end and earns the team's Freshman of the Year honor. In her first season in the red, white and blue, Starks led Detroit Mercy in scoring at 10.1 points per game, totaling 302 points across 30 games. She led or tied for the team lead in scoring in 10 of 30 games and scored in double figures 17 times.

Starks, who started in all 30 games, ranked 14th in the league in scoring in conference games at 10.3 points per game. Overall, Starks was eighth in the Horizon League in 3-pointers made per game (1.67) and sixth in minutes played per game (30.9). Starks was first among all Horizon League freshmen in scoring and third among league rookies in 3-pointers made (50). Starks was the only Horizon League freshmen to average in double figures in 2019-20.

Following her standout first season in the red, white and blue, Starks ranked third in 3-pointers made in Titan freshman history and 10th in points scored for a Titan freshman. She was just the third Titan to sink 50 or more 3-pointers in her freshman campaign.

Most Improved Award -- Bridgid Fox
Freshman forward Bridgid Fox (Altoona, Pa.) received the team's Most Improved Award following her first season as a Titan. Fox started the final 22 games of the season for Detroit Mercy and was one of seven Titans to play in all 30 games in 2019-20. Fox finished third on the team in rebounding (3.9 boards per game) and tied-for-fourth in scoring (6.9 points per game). Fox led the team in field goal percentage, sinking 77-of-137 attempts for a 56.2 field goal percentage. Fox also made a team-best 50 free throws.

Fox scored in double figures nine times during the season, including six times during Horizon League play. Fox was third on the team in scoring during Horizon League play, averaging 7.2 points per game. Fox scored more than 10 points in the final three regular-season games of the season. She was named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Dec. 16 following 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds against Toledo. She had five or more rebounds in a game on 12 different occasions.

Coaches Award -- Annika Corcoran
First-year guard Annika Corcoran (Chardon, Ohio) earned the team's Coaches Award after her freshman campaign with the Titans. Corcoran manned the point guard spot for Detroit Mercy and started all 27 games that she played in during the 2019-20 season. She led the team in assists (61) and assists per game (2.3), which also ranked 14th in the Horizon League.

Corcoran also was second on the team in 3-pointers made (31) and minutes played per game (25.5). She led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (34.4), which was also a bit higher in Horizon League play as Corcoran sank 21-of-59 for a 35.6 percent clip. She ranked 16th in the conference with 1.3 treys made per game in Horizon League games (21 triples in 16 games).

A tough competitor on the court, Corcoran suffered a significant injury in the team's regular-season finale and is working hard to rehab in preparation for the 2020-21 season.

Academic Excellence Award -- Abbie McDowell
Freshman Abbie McDowell (Tecumseh, Mich.) earned the team's Academic Excellence honor for the 2019-20 season. She was one of nine players to earn 2019-20 Detroit Mercy Athletic Director's Honor Roll laurels as she holds a 4.0 GPA with a major in Cyber Security at the University.

McDowell played in 29 games for the Titans and scored 18 points, adding 12 rebounds across her final six games of the season. She made eight 3-pointers overall during her freshman campaign.

The Detroit Mercy women's basketball program would like to thank all of its alumni, fans and supporters for their support throughout each season. Stay tuned to DetroitTitans.com for more information on the team throughout the spring and summer.