by Gary Stepp
The awards continue to pour in for Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles junior sensation Ariel Nickell as she has recently been named by the NAIA as a Third Team All-American.
On the season, the 5’9″ forward from Tazewell, TN, led the Eagles to a second place KIAC Conference finish. In 27 games played, she averaged 26.04 points per game, which was good enough for 1st nationally. She connected on 46% from the field and 71.5% from the charity stripe.
Nickell was far from a one dimensional player, however. In rebounding, she ranked 2nd nationally in rebounds per game (12.7), 2nd nationally in defensive rebounds per game (9.44), and 4th nationally in total rebounds (343). For good measure, she was 3rd in the conference in total steals (60) and 3rd in steals per game (2.2). Her 19 blocks also led her club, and her 48 assists were second most.
Her season high was 39 points, which she reached on three separate occasions (against Pikeville University, Indiana University- Southeast, and Asbury University), and she scored at least 30 points on four other occasions.
Additionally, her rebounding high was 21 against Indiana University-Southeast, and she recorded 5 steals against Brescia University.
Prior to this honor, Nickell was selected as the Kentucky Intercollegiate Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, as well as First Team All-Conference by the league’s coaches.
Furthermore, she was recently selected by the USCAA as a First Team All-American by their voters.
When asked about the accolades received by his junior star, Lady Eagles mentor John Mills said, “Ariel had the type of season I felt she was capable of having at Alice Lloyd. She is an absolute workhorse. Her self-confidence and her work ethic only increased this season, and that gave her a chance to perform at this high level. Once she made up her mind that she couldn’t be stopped, she played exceptionally well.”
Mills added, “Ariel is a pure pleasure to coach. She gives all of the credit for her honors to her teammates. That is just the type of individual she is, because she never wants the spotlight on her.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball All-America Teams
First Team |
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Name |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
Kendra De Jong |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
F |
Sr. |
Hospers, Iowa |
Laura Johnson |
Bethel (Ind.) |
G |
Sr. |
Millbrook, Ill. |
Paige Smith$ |
Indiana Wesleyan |
F |
Sr. |
Fisher, Ind. |
Morgan Stuut |
Saint Xavier (Ill.) |
F |
So. |
Marcellus, Mich. |
Casey Davis |
Roosevelt (Ill.) |
G |
Jr. |
Country Club Hills, Ill. |
Kristen Conahan |
Concordia (Neb.) |
G |
Jr. |
Omaha, Neb. |
Chelsie Trask! |
Morningside (Iowa) |
G |
Sr. |
Rockford, Iowa |
Morgan Smith! |
College of the Ozarks (Mo.) |
C |
Sr. |
Nixa, Mo. |
Abbey Hengesbach |
Concordia (Mich.) |
G |
So. |
Westphila, Mich. |
Karli Harris |
Davenport (Mich.) |
G |
Sr. |
Fishers, Ind. |
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team |
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Name |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
Lindsey Waters |
Union (Ky.) |
C |
Sr. |
Stearns, Ky. |
Marcisa McMillan |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
C |
Jr. |
Seattle, Wash. |
Chelsey Christensen |
Warner Pacific (Ore.) |
G |
Sr. |
West Linn. Ore. |
Felicity Jones |
College of Idaho |
G |
Sr. |
Tremonton, Utah |
Juaneice Jackson |
Grace (Ind.) |
G |
Jr. |
Gary, Ind. |
Kayla Drake |
Saint Francis (Ind.) |
G |
Jr. |
Kokomo, Ind. |
Katie Gonnering |
St. Francis (Ill.) |
F |
So. |
Seymour, Wis. |
Kim Johnson |
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) |
F |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
Morgan Hamner |
Grand View (Iowa) |
F |
Sr. |
Des Moines, Iowa |
Chelsea Davis |
Michigan-Dearborn |
F |
Jr. |
Canton, Mich. |
|
|
|
|
|
Third Team |
||||
Name |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
Hannah Steele |
Jamestown (N.D.) |
G |
Jr. |
Circle Pines, Minn. |
Jolise Limcaco |
Menlo (Calif.) |
G |
So. |
Sacramento, Calif. |
Brooke Randall |
Eastern Oregon |
G |
Sr. |
Wenatchee, Wash. |
Kelsey Evans |
Briar Cliff (Iowa) |
G |
Sr. |
Willmar, Minn. |
Janelle Rust |
Tabor (Kan.) |
F |
Jr. |
Elbing, Kan. |
Ariel Nickell |
Alice Lloyd (Ky.) |
F |
Jr. |
Tazewell, Tenn. |
Megan Jones |
Oklahoma Wesleyan |
G |
Jr. |
Stroud, Okla. |
Samantha Saladino |
St. Ambrose (Iowa) |
F |
Sr. |
Davenport, Iowa |
Sonstina Cousins |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
F |
Sr. |
Englewood, N.J. |
Robyn Veltkamp |
Cornerstone (Mich.) |
G |
Sr. |
Hudsonville, Mich. |