2023-24 All-PacWest Teams

IRVINE, Calif. – Entering the Pacific West Conference scene for the first time this season, Academy of Art women's basketball sophomore guard Alba Rovira Ayuso finished as one of the conference's top all-around performers and earned the honor of PacWest Newcomer of the Year in Tuesday's awards announcement.

"Our program is very proud to receive this individual award," said Head Coach Jesse Clark. "To have the PacWest coaches recognize Alba as one of the impactful players in the conference is a compliment to the work of our entire team. Individual awards are made possible when a player with Alba's abilities can shine because of the quality of her teammates."

The Urban Knights leading scorer in 12 of their 26 games, Rovira Ayuso wrapped up the regular season ranked third in the PacWest in points per game (13.9) on the strength of the conference's second-most in three-point field goals made per game (1.8) and 10th highest field goal percentage (.407). She was also among the top 25 in the PacWest in rebounds (5.3), steals (1.5), and blocks (0.5) per contest, adding 1.6 assists as well.

Consistently working her way into space to get shots off, the native of Valencia, Spain score 17 or more points on 10 occasions with her season-high of 24 points (including four 3-pointers) coming with her top rebounding total of the year (10) in a 74-68 win over Chaminade on Jan. 13. As part of her eight games with two or more steals, the Advertising major demonstrated her defensive prowess by recording the second-most steals in a single game by a PacWest player with seven versus Biola on Dec. 16.

This is the first PacWest Newcomer of the Year honor for Rovira Ayuso in her career and the second in program history after Krystal Forthan was recognized in 2013-14.