CHICAGO — Indiana University Northwest’s Jessica Carrothers (Highland, Ind.) and Roosevelt University’s Marie Outlay (Sun Prairie, Wis.) came away as the big winners when the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2023-24 women’s basketball postseason honor roll on Tuesday afternoon, earning three commendations each.

Carrothers was named both the CCAC Player and Newcomer of the Year, while also securing a spot on the five-member all-conference first team.  Outlay was chosen as the CCAC Freshman of the Year, made the five-person all-freshman team and earned one of the ten honorable mention all-conference spots.

A transfer from Butler University, Carrothers placed among the Top 10 in the conference in no fewer than eight categories highlighted by her first-place rankings in scoring (27.7 ppg), field goals made (253) and free-throw percentage (.875).  She was also second in steals (68), fifth in both field goal percentage (.541) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), seventh in free throws made (84) and eighth in assists with 94.

Carrothers, a two-time CCAC Player of the Week, just missed the Top 10 in rebounding, where she placed 11th with her 6.6 average.

On the national stage, Carrothers’ scoring average is currently the second-highest in the NAIA and her 253 field goals made tie her for the third spot.

Outlay, meanwhile, did not let her first time being a collegiate player interfere with her ability to be among the conference leaders.  Her defensive accolades came courtesy of a league-best 97 steals, while finishing ninth in blocks with 19.  She was also second in free-throw percentage (.847).

Roosevelt came away with the most awards on Tuesday, amassing seven thanks in large part to Outlay.  The Lakers were also named the conference’s Champions of Character Team.

Gaining the runner-up spot was Indiana Northwest with five award winners, followed by four each from Holy Cross College, Governors State University, Saint Xavier University and Olivet Nazarene University.  Conference regular-season and tournament champion Indiana University South Bend collected three awards with University of St. Francis and St. Ambrose University securing two honors each.

Judson University rounded out the list with one selection on the all-freshman squad.

Saint Xavier gained the most all-conference spots with four (two on the second team, two HM picks), while six of the ten total honored schools gathered in three selections each.  No team had more than one honoree on the first team, which was a completely new squad from one year ago.  Making up that contingent were Carrothers, Holy Cross’ Grace Adams (Elkhart, Ind.), Governors State’s Tabetha Jones (Chicago, Ill.), Indiana South Bend’s Tenleigh Phelps (Shelbyville, Ind.) and Roosevelt’s Jayla Turchin (Evanston, Ill.).

The overall all-conference team was made up of five first-team selections and ten members each on both the second team and as honorable mention picks.

A total of 36 awards in all were presented, including CCAC Coach of the Year recognition, which went to Governors State’s Tonishea Mack.  The six-year Jaguar coach had one of the biggest turnarounds in the NAIA this year with a 15-win improvement from one year.  She is also taking GSU to its first-ever NAIA National Tournament Opening Round next week.

The Jaguars finished second in the league (17-3) during the regular season and boast a 23-6 overall mark after going 8-20 one year ago.