MOLINE, Ill. — Camary Williams' breakout season was further honored on Thursday evening as the senior guard became the third-ever University of Evansville women's basketball player to lay claim to the Missouri Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Year award.

"This is a great accomplishment," Williams said of the award. "I've always prided myself on playing good defense. That's how I get going on offense. I love playing defense, and I'm really thankful for receiving this award."

The honor was presented between opening round games at Hoops in the Heartland on Friday evening.

Williams, a native of Ft. Myers, Fla., made the leap from a reserve a year ago to one of the most best guards in the Valley this season. Despite standing at just 5-foot-5, she will enter Friday's meeting with Missouri State as the third-leading rebounder in the conference with 7.9 per contest. She also boasts the second-best steals mark in the NCAA this season, swiping just under four per game.

Williams has come away with 115 steals so far this season, which is the fourth-best mark in MVC history. It broke the school record set by Latasha Austin in the 2001-02 season.

Williams' defensive prowess has often led to points on the other end for the Aces, and she currently ranks sixth in the league at 14.1 points per game.

Williams is the first UE player to win Defensive Player of the Year since Rebekah Parker in 2007. Austin is the only other Ace to win the award, taking it home in that record-setting season 15 years ago.

UE, which earned the No. 6 seed in the MVC tournament, will begin postseason play on Friday against Missouri State. Tipoff is slated for 8:30 p.m.

—#AcesAces —