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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

       

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

       

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.