ORLANDO, Fla. – Chance Bucher capped an astounding Eckerd career by being tabbed the 2024-25 Sunshine State Conference Woman of the Year.
She becomes the third Triton to receive the honor, joining former volleyball Kelly Morrisroe (2007) and Lydee Benoit (2010).
Bucher, from Half Moon Bay, California, was the captain during a season filled with adversity, which included being evacuated from campus for a month due to hurricanes and playing without a home gym until February. Rising to the challenge, she led the team in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.3 rebounds per game). She also added 1.9 assists and 0.8 steals per game. Nationally, she ranked 19th in the nation in 3-point percentage, shooting at a 39.9 percent clip. She was 12th in 3-pointers per game and 42nd in defensive rebounds per game.
She earned WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, D2CCA All-South Region Second Team, and All-SSC First Team laurels. Her leadership extended beyond the court, helping to hold the team together amid adversity and uncertainty.
Bucher graduated with high honors with a degree in psychology in May. She was inducted into Psi Chi (Psychology Honor Society) and Chi Alpha Sigma (National College Athlete Honor Society). She was also named Academic All-District and was a two-time recipient of the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award list.
Off the court, Bucher was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, coordinating and participating in numerous community outreach initiatives. Highlights included co-leading the "Accessible Basketball Showdown" to raise awareness for wheelchair sports, supporting the National Marrow Donor Program, assisting with triathlon event logistics, and participating in a reading tour at local elementary schools.
In recognition of her leadership and all-around excellence, Bucher was named both the Eckerd Female Athlete of the Year and received the James R. Harley Award. The Harley award is presented annually to the top senior male and female student-athletes who demonstrate leadership and distinction in the classroom, in competition, and throughout the community.
Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communication Directors, and Faculty Athletic Representatives from each of the league's 11 member institutions selected Bucher from a pool of nominees. Woman of the Year candidates were scored by voters based on the NCAA's award guidelines.
In the Fall, the Woman of the Year selection committee will name the Top 30 honorees, including 10 women from each division. The selection committee will announce nine finalists in late 2025, with three advancing from each division. At January's NCAA Convention in Washington DC, the national Top 30 honorees will be celebrated, and the NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced, as selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics.
