BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Senior Kadidia Toure of the Long Island University women's basketball team was named both the NEC Player of the Year and the NEC Newcomer of the Year, while junior Janessa Williams received First-Team All-NEC honors, the conference announced Monday. 

Toure additionally received First-Team All-NEC honors and All-Defensive Team Recognition. 

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Toure is in her first season with the program after transferring to LIU from Arizona State University. Toure led the conference in points per game (18.8), rebounds per game (10), and blocks per game (1.4) this winter, while also finishing top 10 in the NEC in field goal percentage (47%, 2nd in the NEC), steals per game (2, 4th) free throw percentage (76.9%, 5th), and assists per game (2.7, 7th). 

The senior forward excelled from the beginning of the season on, finishing 34th in Division I in points per game, 23rd in rebounds per game, and leading the NEC with 13 double-doubles, tying for the 24th-most nationally. 

Toure becomes the third recipient of the NEC Player of the Year award in program history, joining Tamika Dudley (2001-02) and Valerie Nainima (2006-07). 

Williams, LIU's lone returner from the 2024-25 season, dominated on the court during conference play, increasing her points per game averages from 10 during the non-conference schedule to 15.5 points per game during the 18-game NEC schedule. 

Her highlight of the 2025-26 campaign came in LIU's 74-59 win over Saint Francis University on Feb. 19, when the junior guard netted a career-high 29 points in LIU's 15-point home victory. Williams scored 20-plus points three times during NEC play, and posted two double-doubles. 

LIU opens the NEC Women's Basketball Tournament at home against No. 6 seed Chicago State University on Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. Monday's game will be streamed on NEC Front Row, with additional coverage available on the LIU Sharks Audio Network via Varsity Network App.