BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama A&M University head women's basketball coach Dawn Thornton and graduate guard Kalia Walker have received major postseason Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) honors, the conference announced on Friday.
 
Thornton was chosen the SWAC Coach of the Year for the first time in her career, while Walker garnered SWAC Player of the Year honors. In addition, Walker was chosen to the SWAC First Team and teammate Moses Davenport was chosen to the SWAC Second Team.
 
 
Thornton has guided the Bulldogs to numerous firsts this season at the NCAA Division I level, including 17 straight wins, back-to-back 20-win seasons and a SWAC regular season championship. In addition, the program earned the top seed in next week's SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament. Thornton, who is 42-20 overall and 31-5 in SWAC play in two seasons at AAMU, has the Bulldogs nationally ranked statistically in free throw attempts per game (fifth), scoring defense (12^th) free throws made per game (14^th) and field goal percentage defense (17^th).
 
 
Walker, who received the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year accolade prior to the season, is averaging 14.0 points and shooting 40.4 percent from the floor. In addition, she is shooting 84.6 percent from the foul line. 
 
The Alexander, Ark. native ranks tops in the conference in free-throw percentage – 38^th nationally and second in free throws. She has 20 double-digit scoring performances, including a season high 24 points at Florida A&M. She was a two-time SWAC Player of the Week honoree and received the SWAC Impact Player of the Week honor on Dec. 23.
 
 
Davenport, who earned the SWAC Impact Player of the Week award on Nov. 19, is averaging 10.5 points, 6.1 boards and 1.0 assists per game. She has recorded 14 double-digit scoring performances, including a season-high 19 points versus Bethune-Cookman. In addition, the Troy, Ala. native has three-double digit rebounding games, with a season-best 12 versus Alcorn State. 
 
Alcorn State's Nakia Cheatham was selected the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Indiya Bowen, of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, was chosen the SWAC Newcomer of the Week. Pierre-Noelle Tcheuhchoua, of Jackson State, earned the SWAC Freshman of the Year award.
 
2026 SWAC Women's Basketball Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year
Dawn Thornton, Alabama A&M
 
Player of the Year
Kalia Walker, Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year
Nakia Cheatham, Alcorn State

Newcomer of the Year
Indiya Bowen, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Freshman of the Year
Pierre-Noelle Tcheuhchoua, Jackson State 
 
All-SWAC First Team
Kalia Walker, Alabama A&M
Nakia Cheatham, Alcorn State
Indiya Bowen, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Shaniah Nunn, Grambling State 
Taliyah Logwood, Texas Southern 
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Moses Davenport, Alabama A&M
Demya Porter, Southern 
Tahnyjia Purifoy, Florida A&M
Crystal Schultz, Prairie View A&M
Jaileyah Cotton, Jackson State
 
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