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From Gojacks.com:
Megan Vogel repeated as a first-team all-Division I Independent selection, Aaron Johnston was named Division I Independent Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year and Courtney Grimsrud earned Defensive Player of the Year honors as the South Dakota State University women’s basketball team was well represented on the independent honor squad announced Thursday.
In addition, Jennifer Warkenthien earned second-team all-Independent honors and Andrea Verdegan received honorable mention recognition for the Jackrabbits. Selections were voted on by head coaches and sports information directors of the 11 Division I independent colleges and universities.
A senior from St. Peter, Minn., Vogel has averaged 17.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while leading the Jackrabbits to a postseason berth in the Women’s NIT. She would rank seventh among NCAA Division I players in three-point shooting, making 43.1 percent (59-of-137) of her long-range attempts. A three-time Independent Player of the Week selection, Vogel has reached double figures in 23 of the team’s 28 games, surpassing the 20-point mark 14 times. She scored a career-high with 32 points in a home victory against IPFW on Feb. 10.
Grimsrud, a junior from Sisseton, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the team with 44 blocked shots (1.57 bpg) and averaging 5.0 rebounds per game. She tied SDSU’s single-game record with eight blocked shots against nationally ranked Baylor (Texas) on Nov. 25, and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds in a win over North Dakota State on Feb. 23. Grimsrud is the second SDSU player in as many years to earn the award, joining Heather Sieler, who earned the honor during the 2005-06 season.
Warkenthien earned second-team honors while posting averages of 9.9 points and a team best 6.0 rebounds per game. A sophomore from Willow Lake, Warkenthien has posted two double-doubles for points and rebounds this season, including a 20-point, 12-rebound outing against IPFW on March 1. She leads the team in free-throw shooting at 82.4 percent and ranks second on the squad with 30 blocked shots.
Verdegan is the team leader with 95 assists and 45 steals from her point guard position. The junior from Glen Flora, Wis., also ranks scond on the team with 38 three-pointers and third in scoring with an average of 8.4 points per game.
Johnston has led the Jackrabbits to a 23-5 record while leading SDSU to its first postseason appearance at the Division I level. SDSU completed a perfect season against Division I independents for the second consecutive season, running the table during the 2006-07 campaign with an 11-0 record. In seven-plus seasons at SDSU, Johnston has compiled a 168-54 career record (.757 winning percentage), leading the Jackrabbits to five 20-win seasons.
Rounding out the special awards, Utah Valley State center Robyn Fairbanks was named Division I Independent Player of the Year and Savannah State (Ga.) guard Ivy Smith received Newcomer of the Year honors.
SDSU will host either Illinois State or Rice (Texas) in WNIT action Saturday night at Frost Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
2006-07 All-Division I Independent Women’s Basketball First Team
• Lisa Bue, 5-10, Jr., G/F, North Dakota State, 14.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg
• *Robyn Fairbanks, 6-1, So., C, Utah Valley State, 23.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg
• $Johnna Lewis-Carlisle, 5-6, Sr., G, IPFW, 16.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
• Ivy Smith, 5-7, Jr., G, Savannah State (Ga.), 15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
• *Megan Vogel, 5-11, Sr., F, South Dakota State, 17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg
2006-07 All-Division I Independent Women’s Basketball Second Team
• Heather Bates, 5-11, Sr., F, UC Davis, 12.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg
• Shalonda Carter, 6-1, Sr., F, Winston-Salem State (N.C.), 13.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg
• $Ashley Johnson, 5-8, Sr., G, IPFW, 14.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg
• Brenda Slyt, 6-0, Jr., F, North Dakota State, 12.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg
• Jennifer Warkenthien, 6-0, So., F, South Dakota State, 9.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg
* 2005-06 First-Team Selection
$ 2005-06 Second-Team Selection
Honorable Mention: UC Davis - Anna Harp; Chicago State (Ill.) - Chandra Timberlake, Jasmin Dixon; Longwood (Va.) - Keiva Small; New Jersey Tech - Jill Dickinson; North Dakota State - Amanda Girodat; Savannah State (Ga.) - Shaunte Carter; South Dakota State - Andrea Verdegan; Texas-Pan American - MaHogany Daniel, LeKeisha Gray; Utah Valley State - Sandy Marvin, Julie McMurray, Rebekah Peterson.
2006-07 All-Division I Independent Newcomer Team
• LeKeisha Gray, 5-4, Jr., G, Texas-Pan American, 10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg
• Anna Harp, 5-7, Fr., G, UC Davis, 10.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
• Julie McMurray, 6-0, Fr., G/F, Utah Valley State, 8.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg
• Emily Moran, 5-7, Jr., G, North Dakota State, 8.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg
• Ivy Smith, 5-7, Jr., G, Savannah State (Ga.), 15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
• Tamara Vaughn, 5-8, Jr., G, Texas-Pan American, 9.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Player of the Year: Robyn Fairbanks, Utah Valley State
Defensive Player of the Year: Courtney Grimsrud, South Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: Ivy Smith, Savannah State (Ga.)
Coach of the Year: Aaron Johnston, South Dakota State
In addition, Jennifer Warkenthien earned second-team all-Independent honors and Andrea Verdegan received honorable mention recognition for the Jackrabbits. Selections were voted on by head coaches and sports information directors of the 11 Division I independent colleges and universities.
A senior from St. Peter, Minn., Vogel has averaged 17.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while leading the Jackrabbits to a postseason berth in the Women’s NIT. She would rank seventh among NCAA Division I players in three-point shooting, making 43.1 percent (59-of-137) of her long-range attempts. A three-time Independent Player of the Week selection, Vogel has reached double figures in 23 of the team’s 28 games, surpassing the 20-point mark 14 times. She scored a career-high with 32 points in a home victory against IPFW on Feb. 10.
Grimsrud, a junior from Sisseton, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the team with 44 blocked shots (1.57 bpg) and averaging 5.0 rebounds per game. She tied SDSU’s single-game record with eight blocked shots against nationally ranked Baylor (Texas) on Nov. 25, and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds in a win over North Dakota State on Feb. 23. Grimsrud is the second SDSU player in as many years to earn the award, joining Heather Sieler, who earned the honor during the 2005-06 season.
Warkenthien earned second-team honors while posting averages of 9.9 points and a team best 6.0 rebounds per game. A sophomore from Willow Lake, Warkenthien has posted two double-doubles for points and rebounds this season, including a 20-point, 12-rebound outing against IPFW on March 1. She leads the team in free-throw shooting at 82.4 percent and ranks second on the squad with 30 blocked shots.
Verdegan is the team leader with 95 assists and 45 steals from her point guard position. The junior from Glen Flora, Wis., also ranks scond on the team with 38 three-pointers and third in scoring with an average of 8.4 points per game.
Johnston has led the Jackrabbits to a 23-5 record while leading SDSU to its first postseason appearance at the Division I level. SDSU completed a perfect season against Division I independents for the second consecutive season, running the table during the 2006-07 campaign with an 11-0 record. In seven-plus seasons at SDSU, Johnston has compiled a 168-54 career record (.757 winning percentage), leading the Jackrabbits to five 20-win seasons.
Rounding out the special awards, Utah Valley State center Robyn Fairbanks was named Division I Independent Player of the Year and Savannah State (Ga.) guard Ivy Smith received Newcomer of the Year honors.
SDSU will host either Illinois State or Rice (Texas) in WNIT action Saturday night at Frost Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
2006-07 All-Division I Independent Women’s Basketball First Team
• Lisa Bue, 5-10, Jr., G/F, North Dakota State, 14.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg
• *Robyn Fairbanks, 6-1, So., C, Utah Valley State, 23.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg
• $Johnna Lewis-Carlisle, 5-6, Sr., G, IPFW, 16.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
• Ivy Smith, 5-7, Jr., G, Savannah State (Ga.), 15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
• *Megan Vogel, 5-11, Sr., F, South Dakota State, 17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg
2006-07 All-Division I Independent Women’s Basketball Second Team
• Heather Bates, 5-11, Sr., F, UC Davis, 12.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg
• Shalonda Carter, 6-1, Sr., F, Winston-Salem State (N.C.), 13.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg
• $Ashley Johnson, 5-8, Sr., G, IPFW, 14.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg
• Brenda Slyt, 6-0, Jr., F, North Dakota State, 12.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg
• Jennifer Warkenthien, 6-0, So., F, South Dakota State, 9.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg
* 2005-06 First-Team Selection
$ 2005-06 Second-Team Selection
Honorable Mention: UC Davis - Anna Harp; Chicago State (Ill.) - Chandra Timberlake, Jasmin Dixon; Longwood (Va.) - Keiva Small; New Jersey Tech - Jill Dickinson; North Dakota State - Amanda Girodat; Savannah State (Ga.) - Shaunte Carter; South Dakota State - Andrea Verdegan; Texas-Pan American - MaHogany Daniel, LeKeisha Gray; Utah Valley State - Sandy Marvin, Julie McMurray, Rebekah Peterson.
2006-07 All-Division I Independent Newcomer Team
• LeKeisha Gray, 5-4, Jr., G, Texas-Pan American, 10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg
• Anna Harp, 5-7, Fr., G, UC Davis, 10.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
• Julie McMurray, 6-0, Fr., G/F, Utah Valley State, 8.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg
• Emily Moran, 5-7, Jr., G, North Dakota State, 8.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg
• Ivy Smith, 5-7, Jr., G, Savannah State (Ga.), 15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
• Tamara Vaughn, 5-8, Jr., G, Texas-Pan American, 9.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Player of the Year: Robyn Fairbanks, Utah Valley State
Defensive Player of the Year: Courtney Grimsrud, South Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: Ivy Smith, Savannah State (Ga.)
Coach of the Year: Aaron Johnston, South Dakota State
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