RUSTON - After not playing organized basketball for more than two years, Louisiana Tech junior Brandi Wingate finally returned to the courts this year.

And after shaking off some rust through the first month of the season, Wingate showed why she was so highly ranked prior to her season-ending injuries in both high school and junior college.

On Monday, Wingate was rewarded for her efforts as she was voted by the league coaches as the Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year.

"I am very proud of Brandi and what she has accomplished this year," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "She has really bought into what we are trying to do. It wasn't always easy for her, but she has overcome a lot of adversity in her career and even this year. She is very deserving of this honor."

Wingate averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season while shooting 56 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line. After not scoring a single point in the first six games of the season, the Columbia, Maryland native recorded 12 double digit scoring games in the last 23 contests, including a season-high 21 points in a 72-71 loss to Old Dominion.

The 6-foot-2-inch forward recorded her first career double double with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in Tech's 67-64 win over Southern Miss on Saturday. Wingate enters Tech's Conference USA Tournament game against Florida Atlantic on Wednesday with five straight double digit scoring games.

Wingate joins fellow teammates Whitney Frazier (1st team all-CUSA), Kelia Shelton (2nd team all-CUSA) and Tiara Davenport (C-USA All-Freshman team) with postseason honors.

In addition to Wingate's award, the league announced other specialty award winners including Player of the Year (Chastity Gooch, WKU), Defensive Player of the Year (Kendall Noble, WKU), Freshman of the Year (Kiandre'a Pound, FIU), Newcomer of the Year (Jeannie Simms, ODU) and Coach of the Year (Michelle Clark-Heard, WKU).