The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association has recognized three members of the Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team with all-MIAA accolades.
Senior forward
Jayna Green was named to the all-MIAA Defensive team, Junior guard
Molly Hartnett earned all-MIAA second team, and Junior guard
Caely Kesten earned all-MIAA third team.
Senior forward
Jayna Green sits atop of the leaderboard in Bearcat history in career blocks with 190. She tallied 29 blocks during the 2019-20 season, 33 during the 2020-21 season, 43 during the 2021-22 season, 35 during the 2022-23 season, and a career-best 50 so far this season. The previous record was set back between the 2002-04 seasons. Green has led the team in blocks every season she has been a Bearcat, and currently ranks No. 3 in the MIAA. Green rejected a career-best seven shots in a 62-50 win over Washburn on Feb. 2. With Green's performance at Washburn, she is tied for No. 3 in Bearcat history for blocks in a single game. Green has also secured 139 rebounds this season, bringing her career total to 668. She has accumulated a team-high, and career-best, 42 steals this season.
Junior guard
Molly Hartnett is leading the Bearcats in scoring this season with points per game (12.8), minutes played (853), free-throw percentage (88.5%), and assists (91). Hartnett ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in free-throw percentage this season, which sits No. 13 nationally. Hartnett has scored double-digit performances 18 times this season, including three double-doubles to lead the Bearcats. Hartnett earned all-MIAA honorable mention and MIAA Freshman of the Year honors in the 2020-21 season, earned all-MIAA honorable mention honors again in the 2021-22 season, and last year was named to the all-MIAA third team. During this season, Hartnett surpassed the 1,400 point/300 assists mark, becoming only the third player in Bearcat history to ever do so.
Junior guard
Caely Kesten has put together one of her best seasons as a Bearcat, averaging 12.4 points per game. She has produced new season-highs in assists (41), rebounds (99), and total minutes played (766). She leads the team in field goals made (120) and also leads the Bearcats in three-point field goals made (47) on the season. Kesten has a total of 17 games in which she has surpassed double-digits, including four 20-plus point outings. Kesten scored a career-high 24 points against Missouri Western on Jan. 13.
The No. 2-seeded Northwest women will open the MIAA Women's Basketball tournament as they face off against the winner of No. 7 Nebraska Kearney versus No. 10 Washburn on Thursday, March 7. Tip-off is set for 2:15 p.m. inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
MIAA POSTSEASON AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Katie Wagner, Fort Hays State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Connie Clarke, Missouri Western
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ryan Franklin, Missouri Southern
COACH OF THE YEAR: Candi Whitaker, Missouri Western
MIAA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Connie Clarke – Missouri Western, Sr.
Aubree Dewey – Washburn, Sr.
Kareena Gerber – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Jayna Green – Northwest Missouri, Sr.
Katie Wagner – Fort Hays State, Sr.
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Connie Clarke – Missouri Western, Sr.
Karenna Gerber – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Brooke Littrell – Central Missouri, R-Jr.
Grace Plye – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Katie Wagner – Fort Hays State, Sr.
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Brionna Budgetts – Missouri Western, Sr.
Molly Hartnett – Northwest Missouri, Jr.
Kryslyn Jones – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Shiloh McCool – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
Olivia Nelson – Central Missouri, R-Jr.
ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM
Ashlyn Alloway – Lincoln, So.
Aubree Dewey – Washburn, Sr.
Caely Kesten – Northwest Missouri, Jr.
Olivia Hollenbeck – Fort Hays State, Sr.
Faith Paramore – Emporia State, Sr.
ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
Aliyah Llanusa – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Ryan Franklin – Missouri Southern, Fr.
Kaitlin Hunnicutt – Missouri Southern, Jr.
Brandi Hudson – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Jill Aschoff – Nebraska Kearney, So.
Courtney Lee – Northeastern State, Jr.
Halie Jones – Northeastern State, Sr.
Harper Schreiner – Pittsburg State, So.
Alayzha Knapp – Rogers State, Sr.
Yibari Nwidadah – Washburn, So.
