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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