WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Women’s Basketball postseason honors have been announced. This year's accolades include Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Senior Scholar Athlete, Coaching Staff of the Year, and First, Second, and Third Team All-Conference.

Each season, the NAC selects a Sportsmanship Team, which includes one player from each institution as chosen by their head coach. This award honors athletes who exhibit outstanding sportsmanship, contributing to the overall culture of women’s basketball through integrity and behavior that exceeds the expectations of the game.

Saige Evans of Husson University was voted the 2026 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year by the conference’s head coaches. Husson received another postseason award as Eagle’s newcomer Sophia Carnes was selected as the Rookie of the Year. UMaine-Farmington’s Jessica Dow was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year with the Mariners’ Grace Huntwork earning Senior Scholar Athlete honors. Maine Maritime Academy was voted the Coaching Staff of the Year by their NAC peers.

Evans (Greenbush, Maine) receives her first NAC Player of the Year honors as she has been one of the top players in the NAC since the start of the season, leading the conference in total points with 412 during the regular season and 319 in conference play. She finished the regular season tied for the conference lead with 16.3 points per game (overall) and was first in conference only with 17.7. Evans shot 46.9% from the floor and 79.5% from the foul line, while recording double-figure point totals in all but one game for Husson this year, including six 20-point games and one 30-point game. Evans has also been one of the top rebounders in the conference, she is second in overall boards per game averaging 9.8 and is first in conference play only with 10.6. The sophomore leads the NAC in total rebounds with 256 overall and 190 in league play. Evans recorded 16 double-doubles during the season, ranking tied for 13th in all of Division III. Evans also earned a spot on the First Team All-Conference, marking the first time in her career she has received the honor.

The Beaver’s Dow (Saco, Maine) adds to her postseason accolades by earning her first NAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Dow is ranked first in the conference in overall total steals (84) and second in steals per game (3.3). In conference play she has tallied 52 total steals and averaged 2.9 per game. She places fifth in total blocks in conference play (18) and averaged 1.0 per game. She averaged 5.5 rebounds per contest (6.2 in league play) and recorded six double-doubles in the regular season. Despite ranking just 25th overall in minutes per game (25.4), Dow consistently produced at a high level, registering three or more steals in 13 of 25 games. A three-time NAC Defensive Player of the Week selection, she was routinely tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top offensive threat, anchoring her team’s defensive effort all season long. Recently, Dow helped lead Farmington to their first NAC women’s basketball title since 2007. Dow also earned First-Team All-Conference recognition, marking her third consecutive year receiving All-Conference honors (2024 Third Team, 2025 Second Team) and her first career First-Team selection.

Huntwork (Gretna, Neb.) was selected, by vote of the conference head coaches and NAC institutions’ Faculty Athletic Representatives, as the 2026 NAC Women’s Basketball Senior Scholar Athlete. The Maine Maritime Academy senior finished the regular season averaging 5.8 points per game and 1.7 rebounds. Huntwork posted four assists, 10 steals and one block and shot .418 from 3-point range. 

Off the court, Huntwork maintains a 3.83 grade point average in power engineering technology with a minor in environmental sustainability. During 2024 and 2025, Huntwork completed a two-year internship with Omaha Public Power District with the Protection and Automation Engineering Department and has been working 25+ hours per week remotely during both her junior and senior academic years. She is a Pen Pal with the Adams School and Penobscot School students, Huntwork also has worked with Dribble Kids, and has volunteered back home at her local church doing summer and start/end of the year events. Additionally, Huntwork served on the committee overseeing the Mariners’ end of the year athletics ceremony for two years, was a three-year Bocce Ball Tournament volunteer, two-year member of SAAC, serves as part of the on-campus leadership program, a tutor at the Bouy House, ran women's cross country and has been a three-year youth basketball coach during school breaks. 

Carnes (Gilbert, Ariz.) made an immediate impact for the Eagles in her debut season in being the consistent sixth man for Husson this season. She tallied 7.6 points per game on 40% shooting from the floor, 28.6% from three-point range. She is second for three-point field goals per conference game with 2.2, in addition to nine double-figure scoring games during the season. Carnes has tallied 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the regular season, adding 1.5 steals a contest. Carnes was named NAC Rookie of the Week twice on the year, Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association Rookie of the Week once and NAC Defensive Player of the Week once.

The Maine Maritime leadership of Head Coach Craig Dagan and Assistant Coaches Mark Moran, Ryan Blanchard, and Caitlyn Pavalkis earned their fifth consecutive Coaching Staff of the Year. The Mariners finished the regular season with a 16-2 conference record, earning them the top seed in the 2026 NAC Women’s Basketball Tournament where they advanced to the championship game for the fourth straight season.  

2026 NAC Women's Basketball Major Awards & All-Conference
Player of the Year - Saige Evans, Husson University
Defensive Player of the Year - Jessica Dow, UMaine-Farmington
Rookie of the Year - Sophia Carnes, Husson University
Senior Scholar Athlete - Grace Huntwork, Maine Maritime Academy
Coaching Staff of the Year - Maine Maritime Academy

First Team
Saige Evans, Husson University
Jessica Dow, UMaine-Farmington
Addison Forry, Maine Maritime Academy
Pryelle Kesse-Beda, Thomas College
Lilly Roy, Husson University
              
Second Team
Jaydn Pingree, UMaine-Farmington
Evelyn Dagan, Maine Maritime Academy
Jaiyla Colon, SUNY Cobleskill
Skylar Begay, VTSU Lyndon
Kristie Zator, VTSU Johnson
              
Third Team
Hailey Blanchard, Maine Maritime Academy
Kiara Mack, VTSU Lyndon
Elena Alderman, Thomas College
Hannah Bonczkowski, SUNY Cobleskill
Laela Martinez, Husson
 
Sportsmanship Team
Skylar Begay, VTSU Lyndon
Leila Chisholm, Lesley University
Danielle Dow, Husson University
Holly Loring, Thomas College
Laney Lyle, Maine Maritime Academy
Sarah Poli, UMaine-Farmington
Cris Sandlin, VTSU Johnson
Cady Stairs, UMaine-Presque Isle
Kayleigh Tobin, SUNY Delhi
Mady Victorin, SUNY Cobleskill