Gazelles Center/Forward  Melissa Akullu is having a season of a lifetime with Vanguard University which won the regular season. On  Wednesday 28th February, she was named as the Golden State Athletic Conference coaches (GSAC) player of the year.

Akullu is the third individual in Vanguard University program history to repeat as GSAC Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of Kelly Schmidt (2004-06) and Jessica Richter (2006-08). She also becomes just the fifth player at Vanguard University to capture All-GSAC honors three times in a career.

Akullu was dominant on both ends of the floor leading the conference in scoring with 24.4 PPG, rebounds 13.7 RPG, Field Goal efficiency 62.4% and steals with 3.3 SPG. Nationally, she ranks sixth in scoring, third in rebounding, eighth in field goal percentage and fifth in steals.

Throughout the regular season, she was able to record 19 double-doubles, and impressively maintained a streak of 14 consecutive games. Despite facing consistent double teams, Akullu managed to score 20 or more points in 17 games, and even went beyond the 30-point mark in seven games. On January 15, she showcased her scoring potential by achieving a career-high of 41 points, accompanied by 14 rebounds and eight steals, during a game against Bethesda.

The three-time All-GSAC performer landed on the VU single-season list in several categories, including 11th in points (562), first in scoring average, eighth in field goals made (232), first in field goal percentage, fifth in total rebounds (315), first in rebounds per game, 10th in steals (75) and tied for fourth in steals per game (3.3).

She also captured two NAIA National Player of the Week awards and three GSAC Player of the Week accolades this season. 

Akullu put up an impressive performance during the 2023 women’s Afrobasket in Kigali as she averaged 9.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals.

Melissa is expected to feature for Uganda during the 2025 Zone V Afrobasket Qualifiers which she missed out on in 2023.

Another Gazelle that has been on fire is Jane Asinde with the UTEP miners in Texas.

She was recently named Conference Player of the Week after leading UTEP miners to a double victory against LA Tech and Bearkats, averaging 20.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

Additionally, she had 13/24,54% FG and had a game high 22 points, 11 rebounds against Bearkats as she recorded her 11th double-double of the season.

She has scored 20+ players points in 7 of the 27 games she has played so far. Additionally, she has picked 10+ rebounds on 11 different occasions.

She averages 16.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.7 assists.