by ATLANTA – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today the finalists for the 2015 WBCA NAIA Player of the Year award.
They are:
• Tay’la Foster, 5’10”, Senior, Guard, Bethel University (Tenn.)
• Riley Holsinger, 5’10”, Junior, Guard, Vanguard University (Nez Perce Tribe)
• Hayley Newby, 6’0”, Senior, Forward, Freed-Hardeman University
• Morgan Stuut, 5’10”, Senior, Forward, Saint Xavier University
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 winner will be announced during the Fifth Annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, at the Tampa Marriott Waterside in the Grand Ballroom in Tampa. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four®.
“Congratulations to each of these fine student-athletes on being named finalists for the 2015 WBCA NAIA Player of the Year award,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each student-athlete has played an integral role in guiding their respective team to an exceptional season, and is very deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA celebrates each of these finalists for their contributions to the game during the 2014-15 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 2015 WBCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America Team are as follows:
| Name | Institution |
Year
|
Position
|
Height
|
| Grace Alonso de Armino | Freed-Hardeman University |
Senior
|
Forward
|
6’1”
|
| Rateska Brown | Oklahoma City University |
Senior
|
Guard
|
5’6”
|
| Chelsea Craig | Campbellsville University |
Senior
|
Forward
|
5’10”
|
| A’Jha Edwards | Montana State – Northern |
Senior
|
Center
|
6’5”
|
| Tay’la Foster | Bethel University (Tenn.) |
Senior
|
Guard
|
5’10”
|
| Daina Grazulis | Davenport University |
Senior
|
Center
|
6’3”
|
| Riley Holsinger | Vanguard University |
Junior
|
Guard
|
5’10”
|
| Janeicia Neely | Loyola University |
Senior
|
Guard
|
5’5”
|
| Hayley Newby | Freed-Hardeman University |
Senior
|
Forward
|
6’0”
|
| Morgan Stuut | Saint Xavier University |
Junior
|
Forward
|
5’10”
|
“The 10 members of the 2015 WBCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America Team are well deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for their achievements this season,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “These young women have separated themselves and through their efforts, have become ambassadors for our game. Through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have elevated the women’s game to an exciting new level.”
