HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – With the close of the 2021-22 campaign, the Alabama A&M Sports Information Office is producing a Season in Review for each of the program's 16 sports from the past year.
 
That series will begin with the fall season before progressing to the winter and spring campaigns. Each week reviews will be released on Mondays and Wednesdays until concluding with the final spring sport on Monday, July 18 and a Department Season in Review on Wednesday, July 20. Today we take a look back at the 2021-22 Women's Basketball season.
 
2021-22 Women's Basketball
Conference Affiliation: Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
Overall/Conference Finish: 15-14, 13-5 (2^nd)
Final National Ranking: N/A
NCAA: N/A
All-Americans/All-America: 2: CoSIDA Academic All-America Second-Team: Dariauna Lewis, BOXTOROW First-Team: Dariauna Lewis
All-Region Selections: 1: CoSIDA Academic All-District: Dariauna Lewis
All-Conference Selections: 2: Second-Team: Dariauna Lewis, Nigeria Jones
Conference Weekly Honors: 7: Player of the Week: Dariauna Lewis (Jan. 5, Jan. 25), Nigeria Jones (Dec. 15), Impact Player of the Week: Dariauna Lewis (Dec. 15, Dec. 23), Deshawna Harper (11/24), Nigeria Jones (3/2)
Major Awards and Honors: 3: CoSIDA Academic All-America Second-Team: Dariauna Lewis, CoSIDA Academic All-District: Dariauna Lewis, Preseason Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List: Dariauna Lewis
 
2021-22 Season in Review

• Delivered a second-place finish in the SWAC for just the second time, officially, in the program's NCAA Division I history. Posted 13-5 mark in league play to accomplish that feat for the first time since 2004-05 (the 2011-12 team did so as well but those records have been vacated by the NCAA). The 13 wins in SWAC action also marked a program record.
• Produced NCAA Division I Era record seven-game win streak from February 12 through March 5, capping the run with a 73-67 double overtime victory against Southern on Senior Day. Also included a 76-68 win over rival Alabama State (2/26) that ensured the tie-breaker in the standings and a 55-51 nailbiter over Grambling (3/3).
• Along with that seven-game win streak, won four in a row from January 22-31.
• Was one of just three teams in the SWAC to post an overall winning record, finishing at 15-14. That win total tied for the third most in the program's NCAA DI Era, trailing just the 17 from the 2006-07 and 2019-20 campaigns as well as the 16 wins in the 2004-05 and 2009-10 seasons and tied with 2010-11's 15 wins.
• As a unit, led the SWAC in fewest points allowed per game (62.6), this in a season that saw non-conference competition against the likes of powerhouses such as Dayton, Cincinnati and Nebraska – all on the road. 
• Destroyed Samford (72-47 on Dec. 9) and knocked off Florida Atlantic (65-63 on Dec. 20) in road non-conference play.
• Ranked No. 28 in NCAA Division I in blocks per game with 4.7. That mark was good for second in the SWAC.

 
Individual Achievements/Honors

• Dariauna Lewis became just the second individual in Alabama A&M history to repeat as a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America. She earned Second-Team honors, joining football's Tracy Kendall (First-Team in 1989-90 and 1990-91). She is only the fifth individual in the history of Bulldog Athletics to be named an Academic All-America and one of just two multi-time Academic All-District honorees in A&M history.
• Lewis also became the first player in program history to earn a third BOXTOROW All-American honor – all First-Team. She played in all 29 games, starting 28 and posting averages of 15.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.1 assists and nearly a steal per game. She also shot .500 from the field (167-of-334) and .724 (105-of-145) at the foul line. As a precursor to that performance she was also named to the Preseason Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List.
• Among Lewis' honor-worthy performances were 18 double-doubles and 12 games of at least 12 rebounds. Nationally, she also finished ninth in defensive rebounds per game (8.1), 13^th  in double-doubles, 14^th in rebounds per game, 16^th in total rebounds (329) and 28^th in blocks per game. In terms of SWAC statistical rankings she led the league in rebounds and rebounds per game, was second in blocks and third in field goal percentage.
• The Bulldogs made history with multiple All-SWAC selections for the third straight season, accomplishing the feat for the first time in program history. Achieving that honor were Lewis and graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.), both of whom were named to the Second-Team. Lewis' accomplishments are well known and Jones earned her spot by averaging 14.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 34.8 minutes per game.
• In terms of SWAC statistical rankings, Jones was fourth in minutes, sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) and seventh in assists per game. She was also named the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week on February 28.
• On the year Jones played in all 29 games, starting 28 and registering double-digit scoring in 21 of those. She also reached at least 20 points nine times, led by a career-high 35 in a 76-68 victory over rival Alabama State (2/26). Jones also produced 28 points, six assists and a pair of steals at Samford (12/9) and 28 points, five steals and four assists vs. Southern (3/5).
• Jones also had 17 games of at least three assists and 16 with multiple steals. Among those were an eight-assist game vs. Florida A&M and seven assists at Grambling.
• As a unit, A&M combined for seven SWAC weekly awards with Lewis claiming two and Jones one. Lewis and Jones would add Impact Player of the Week honors (two for Lewis, one for Jones) and Deshawna Harper would pick up one.
• Sophomore Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) delivered a strong second season, playing in 28 games with 22 starts. On the year she averaged 6.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.3 minutes per outing.
• Burgin posted her most impressive game of the year against Florida A&M, just missing a triple-double with seven points, seven assists and 11 boards. The assist and rebound marks represent career-highs.
• Senior center Jada Clowers (Macon, Ga.) made the most of Senior Night, recording a career-high 17 boards to go with eight points and three assists against Southern (3/5).

 
Schedule of Season in Review Releases
Football (May 25)
Women's Cross Country (May 30)
Women's Volleyball (June 1)
Women's Soccer (June 6)
Women's Basketball (June 8)
Men's Basketball (June 13)
Men's Indoor Track & Field (June 15)
Women's Indoor Track & Field (June 20)
Bowling (June 22)
Women's Tennis (June 27)
Men's Tennis (June 29)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field (July 2)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field (July 6)
Men's Golf (July 11)
Baseball (July 13)
Softball (July 18)
Athletics (July 20)