DALLAS, TX. – Clara Gonzalez Planella was named as the Conference USA's Sixth Player of the Year Monday afternoon thanks to her incredible contributions off the bench this season for Jacksonville State.
 
Planella has played in 25 games in her first season with the Gamecocks after two years at the junior college level. She has only started in seven contests. For the year, Planella averages 8.4 points per game in 21.4 average minutes. She also is averaging 2.9 rebounds and has 24 total assists.
 
In conference action, Planella has been even better. The 5'8" guard from Spain has averaged 9.3 points in league play in 24.7 minutes per game. She averages 3.2 rebounds and 15 of her 25 assists have come in the 15 games she has played throughout the conference slate.
 
Planella's best game of the season came on Dec. 16 at Utah Valley. She dropped 19 points on 46.2% shooting and made 4-8 shots from beyond the arc. She also pulled down six rebounds, had a steal, and an assist.
 
In league play, Planella has had eight games in double-digits, including four straight prior to the game at Kennesaw State on Saturday, March 8. Planella shined at perennial CUSA power Middle Tennessee on Feb. 6 when she poured in 17 points on 42.9% shooting from the field and a blistering 55.6% shooting night from three.
 
The Gamecocks will need Planella's impactful season to continue this week as they head to Huntsville, Ala., for the 2025 CUSA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament at the Propst Arena. Jax State will play Sam Houston in the first game of the tournament on Tuesday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m.
 
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