March 29, 2024

Southeastern Louisiana junior first baseman Mahalia Gibson (Choctaw) named to the 2017 All-Southland Conference Softball Second Team

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana junior first baseman Mahalia Gibson (Choctaw) and junior outfielder Kinsey Nichols were recognized as members of the 2017 All-Southland Conference Softball Teams, which were announced on Monday by the league office.

Gibson, a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Nichols, who hails from Alvin, Texas, were both named to the second team. Gibson, in her first season out of East Central (Miss.) Community College, was also named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year.

Gibson is the first Lady Lion to earn Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. Former SLU standouts Arica Rodriguez (2007), Summer Delauneville (2004), Voncia Bookman (1992) and Patti Pender (1990) were Louisiana Newcomers of the Year, but Gibson is the first to be recognized by the Southland Conference.

Gibson led Southeastern with 52 hits, 10 doubles, five triples and 36 RBI to go with a .317 batting average, three home runs and 22 runs scored. In conference play, she hit .347 with four doubles, four triples, three home runs and 20 RBI. She ranked among the league leaders in batting average (15th), slugging percentage (.494, 11th), hits (10th), RBI (6th), doubles (9th) and triples (3rd).