NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference today announced the 2019-20 women's basketball All-Conference and major award winners. Senior forward Mary Gedaka (Mullica Hill, N.J.) and redshirt freshman forward Maddy Siegrist (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) were both named first team All-BIG EAST, while Siegrist was the unanimous Rookie of the Year, in addition to earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team.
 
Gedaka and Siegrist are the third pair of Wildcats to earn first team All-Conference honors in the same season joining Kathie Beisel and Nancy Bernhardt in 1982-83 and Shelly Pennefather and Lynn Tighe in 1986-87. Siegrist becomes the first Villanova freshman to garner first team All-League accolades.
 
Siegrist is having one of the best freshman seasons in the history of the Villanova women's basketball program. Entering play in the BIG EAST Tournament, she leads the Wildcats in scoring (19.1 ppg.), rebounding (8.8 rpg.) and three-point field goals (59) and she is second in field goal percentage (.456). She has scored double figures in 27 of the 29 games this season, including 14 games of 20 points or more. Siegrist has set two Wildcat freshman records this year, including 20 point games with 14 and points by a rookie in a season that is currently at 553. The previous mark of 504 was set by Shelly Pennefather in 1983-84.
 
During the regular season, Siegrist led the BIG EAST in 20-point games with 14 and double-doubles with 11. She also ranked second in both scoring for overall games at 19.1 points per game and rebounding with an 8.8 average. She led the league in rebounding for just conference games at 9.3. On the national scene, Siegrist is the second highest freshman scorer in the country with her 19.1 points per game average.

Gedaka currently ranks second on the team in scoring at 17.4 points per game to go with 6.7 rebounds per contest, 3.0 assists per game, 30 steals and 22 blocks. She has tallied 27 double digit scoring game this year and 80 for her career. Of the 80, 23 have been of 20 points or more, including 12, 20-point games this season. She also has six double-doubles this year and 13 for her career.  Gedaka currently ranks fourth in the Big East in scoring at 17.4 points per game.  
 
In 11 of the 29 contests this season, Gedaka has played every minute of the game. She currently leads the Big East Conference and ranks seventh nationally in minutes played at 38.3 minutes per contest.

Gedaka currently ranks seventh on Villanova's all-time scoring list with 1,523 points and she is ninth in rebounds with 696. 

Siegrist and Gedaka are the 18^th and 19^th All-Big East first team honorees in Villanova women's basketball history.