By Jim Gazzolo

Special to the American Press

Kaili Chamberlin made quite an impression in her rookie season at McNeese State.

The shooting guard was named Freshman of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Chamberlin became the third Cowgirl to earn the honor.

The Medford, Oregon, native was also named to the third team. She was the lone member of either McNeese team — men’s or women’s — to be named to the squad.

“This is a great honor for Kaili and huge for our program,” said McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy. “It shows players that you can come here and play and get noticed.”

Chamberlin led the Cowgirls in scoring last season with an 11 points per game average, finishing 11th in the Southland Conference. She was also named the SLC’s Freshman of the Year.

“I was really impressed with the way Kaili came in her and stepped up as a leader of the team,” Kennedy said. “I’m really excited to see her take the next step and grow for this coming season. I think she will really have a big year.”

Kennedy, who came to McNeese last season after a successful run at Portland State, followed Chamberlin’s high school career and kept recruiting her after he moved.

“She was a very good player in Oregon and we knew she would have a good career here,” Kennedy said. “She came from a winning program and knew how to play the game the right way, but she came in and really shot the ball well for us also.”

Chamberlin got better as the season wore on, finishing with 12.4 points per game in conference games, which was good for eighth overall. She scored in double figures in 15 games including a season-high 29 against Centenary when she canned a season-high seven 3-pointers.

Chamberlin led her high school team to a state championship her senior year after basketball was shut down in Oregon due to COVID-19 her junior season.

She is the first McNeese LSWA Freshman of the Year winner since Robin Daniels in 1992.