Earnest a First Team All-MVC Honoree
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Valpo women’s basketball graduate student Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) was recognized Wednesday as a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree as the conference office unveiled its postseason awards.
Earnest has enjoyed another stellar season in her final year in the Brown and Gold. She ranks fourth in the Valley in scoring (17.4 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (7.5 rpg), one of just two MVC players to rank in the top-seven in both categories. Earnest also ranks second in free throws made (140), fourth in field goals made (172), sixth in free throw percentage (.833) and seventh in steals/game (1.8 spg). Additionally, she has handed out 2.7 assists/game and is on pace to lead the Beacons in the three major statistical categories for a second straight year — something which, prior to last season, a Valpo player had not accomplished since 1991-92.
Earnest has totaled 540 points this year, fourth-most in a single season in program history and just 19 shy of the second spot. She also ranks fourth in a single season at Valpo in free throws made, fifth in field goals made and is just 10 rebounds shy from cracking that top-10 chart as well.
Earnest has scored in double figures in 27 of the Beacons’ 31 games this year, including 13 games of 20 or more points — highlighted by a 31-point effort in the regular season finale against UNI. She has recorded eight points/rebounds double-doubles and pulled down a season-high 13 boards in the home win over UIC. Earnest has led Valpo in scoring 20 times, rebounding 25 times, assists 13 times, steals nine times and blocked shots seven times this season.
Earnest’s strong final season is putting a bow on her standout career at Valpo. She broke the program career games played record earlier this month and has pulled on the Valpo uniform 144 times. Last time out against UNI, she broke the program career rebounding record, which now sits at 875 rebounds. Earnest also ranks third in program history in scoring (1,639 points), third in free throws made (364) and fourth in field goals made (585).
This is the second spot on an All-Conference team for Earnest, as she received Second Team All-MVC accolades last season. Earnest becomes the fourth Valpo player to earn First Team All-MVC honors since the program joined the Valley — most recently, Shay Frederick was a First Team All-MVC honoree in 2021-22.