Player of the Year Kiana Johnson of Virginia Union University headlines 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches' All-America Team

Player of the Year Kiana Johnson of Virginia Union University headlines 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches' All-America Team

ATLANTA (March 21, 2016) – Kiana Johnson of Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, is the 2016 WBCA National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Player of the Year and headlines the 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II All-America Team, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.

In her first and only season at VUU, Johnson, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, leads the NCAA Division II in scoring averaging 29.3 points per game and is second nationally in assists averaging 8.7 per game.

Johnson broke the school record for points (671) and assists (219). She posted a school record 45 points on Feb. 13 and 17 assists on Jan. 11.

Johnson was recently named State Player of the Year by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, while also being named to its all-state team. She also earned CIAA Player of the Year and NCAA Division II Atlantic Region most outstanding player honors. Johnson was selected to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region all-tournament team.

Johnson will be leading the Panthers as they play Bentley University in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Tuesday, March 22nd.

The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school).

“The WBCA is delighted to name Kiana as the 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II Player of the Year,"” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Kiana has played an integral role in guiding her team to an extraordinary season, and is very deserving of this distinguished honor.  The WBCA applauds Kiana for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the game during the 2015-16 season.”

The 10-member team was selected by a vote of the selection committee. The committee is composed of one representative from each of the nine geographical regions and a chairperson. The members of the 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team are as follows:

 

Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Mariyah Brawner-Henley Lewis Senior Forward 6’0”
Jennifer Gemma Bentley Junior Center 6’0”
Miki Glenn California University of Pennsylvania Junior Guard 5’7”
Nicole Hampton Lubbock Christian Senior Guard 5’10”
LaQuinta Jefferson Missouri Western State Senior Guard 6’0”
Kiana Johnson Virginia Union Senior Guard 5’6”
Jasmine Kearse Limestone College Junior Guard 5’6”
Michelle Mitchell Columbus State Senior Guard 5’9”
Chelsey Rhodes Delta State Senior Guard 5’7”
Farrah Shokoor University of California – San Diego Senior Forward 5’11”

“The 10 members of the 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team are well deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for their accomplishments this season,” said Donehew. “These young women have worked to elevate themselves and their teams to an elite level and through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have lifted the women’s game.”

The following have been recognized as Coaches’ All-America Honorable Mentions in the NCAA Division II:
 

Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Fatima Adams Arkansas Tech Senior Forward 5’10”
Taylor Adams Shorter Junior Center 6’1”
Vandell Andrade Le Moyne College Senior Guard 5’10”
Annie Armstrong Drury University Senior Guard 5’8”
Brianna Bishop American International College Senior Guard 5’8”
Mikaela Burgess Pittsburg State Sophomore Guard 5’7”
Tiara Caldwell Union University Junior Center 6’2”
Andrea Daugherty Ashland University Sophomore Forward 6’1”
Brittney Dietz University of Mary Senior Guard 5’10”
Dallas Ely West Chester University of Pennsylvania Senior Guard 5’9”
Alexis Foley Winona State Senior Guard 5’9”
Morgan Griffith Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Junior Forward 6’0”
Kelly Hardeman Azusa Pacific Senior Forward 6’0”
Kailee Howe West Liberty Senior Guard 5’10”
Kelsey Hutchins North Georgia Junior Center 6’1”
Kariel Hutt Augusta University Senior Forward/Center 6’0”
Cierra Jackson North Georgia Senior Guard 5’7”
Monay Lee California State Univ - Dominguez Hills Senior Forward 5’7”
Katrina Littlepage West Georgia Senior Guard 5’6”
Keiona Mathews Texas A&M International Senior Guard 5’8”
Cassidy Mihalko California Baptist Junior Guard 5’10”
Megan Mullings Alaska-Anchorage Senior Forward 6’1”
Michaela Neuhaus West Texas A&M Senior Guard 5’7”
Jessica Prieto Texas A&M International Senior Guard 5’10”
Dina Ragab New York Institute of Technology  Senior Guard 6’0”
Laina Snyder Ashland University Sophomore Forward 6’1”
McKenzie Stanford Oklahoma Christian Junior Forward 6’0”
Erin Walsh Lee University Sophomore Guard 5’11”
Emily Wendling Saginaw Valley State Junior Center 6’3”
Bria Young Philadelphia University Senior Guard 5’7”

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About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

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