UMAC Women's Basketball Postseason Awards
ST. PAUL, MN - The Northwestern Eagles were dominant during the regular season, going 15-1 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play and winning the regular season title by four games, on Sunday they also won the UMAC tournament with a 57-42 win over North Central and punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament. In the postseason awards, released Wednesday, the Eagles also led the UMAC in players selected to the three all-conference lists with four players selected, Lexi Hagen was also selected as the UMAC Player of the Year, and head coach Aaron Kahl was named UMAC Coach of the Year. Hagen was phenomonal for the Eagles all season long, finishing second in the UMAC in scoring (15.1 PPG), second in rebounding (7.8 RPG), first in field goal percentage (.415), and first in three-point field goal percentage (.400). Northwestern also had UMAC tournament MVP Megan McGeough earn First Team All-Conference honors. Rylie Hirschey was selected for Second Team All-Conference, Jasmine Sondrol was selected to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team, and Taylor Schuck was named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team.
Jay Kwateh of Minnesota Morris was named UMAC Defensive Player of the Year for leading a Cougar defense that gave up just 55.4 points per game in conference play, Kwateh was also second in the UMAC in steals at 2.8 per game including a game on December 9 at North Central where she recorded a UMAC best eight steals. Kwateh was also named Second Team All-Conference along with teammate Malory Anderson who was also named to the All-UMAC Defensive Team.
UMAC Rookie of the Year Isabelle Sager had an outstanding freshman campaign for the Polars, she was top ten in league play in rebounds with 6.7 per game and she also averaged 9.3 points per game in UMAC play. Teammate Madi Hecox was named First Team All-Conference after she was third in the league in scoring at 13.4 points per game this season. McKenzie Latzke was named Second Team All-Conference to round out the awards for the Polars.
UMAC runner up North Central was well represented on the all-conference lists this season. Joelle Talso was named First Team All-Conference after finishing eighth in the league in scoring and leading the UMAC in assists per game with 5.1 per game. Mia Mabanag was named to the UMAC Honorable Mention All-Conference team and Brycelyn Brewster was selected for the All-UMAC Defensive Team.
Rounding out the first team is Miranda Wagner from Northland, Wagner led the UMAC in scoring, averaging 20.2 points per game in conference play. Wagner was also second in the league in field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Emma Nelson rounds out the second team after being selected from Martin Luther after she finished sixth in the league in scoring at just under twelve points per game and Jordyn Heckendort was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection.
A trio of Yellowjackets were named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team in Katie Dobson, Elise Besonen, and Kaelyn Christian. Mady Sanders was selected to the UMAC All-Defensive team for Wisconsin-Superior. From Bethany Lutheran, Skylar Cotten was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection for the Vikings.
Player of the Year - Lexi Hagen, Northwestern
Defensive Player of the Year - Jay Kwateh, Minnesota Morris
Rookie of the Year - Isabelle Sager, Crown
Coach of the Year - Aaron Kahl, Northwestern
UMAC First-Team All-Conference
| Name |
School |
Position |
Hometown |
| Lexi Hagen |
Northwestern |
Guard |
Jordan, MN |
| Madi Hecox |
Crown |
Guard |
Rockford, IL |
| Megan McGeough |
Northwestern |
Forward |
Greeley, CO |
| Joelle Talso |
North Central |
Forward |
Ramsey, MN |
| Miranda Wagner |
Northland |
Guard |
Rawlings, WY |
UMAC Second-Team All-Conference
| Name |
School |
Position |
Hometown |
| Malory Anderson |
Minnesota Morris |
Forward |
Morris, MN |
| Rylie Hirschey |
Northwestern |
Guard |
Pine River, MN |
| Jay Kwateh |
Minnesota Morris |
Forward |
Maple Grove, MN |
| McKenzie Latzke |
Crown |
Guard |
Gaylord, MN |
| Emma Nelson |
Martin Luther |
Forward |
Redwood Falls, MN |
UMAC Honorable Mention All-Conference
| Name |
School |
Position |
Hometown |
| Elise Besonen |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Guard |
Ewen, MI |
| Kaelyn Christian |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Guard |
St. Michael, MN |
| Skylar Cotten |
Bethany Lutheran |
Guard |
Grand Meadow, MN |
| Katie Dobson |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Guard |
Black River Falls, MN |
| Jordyn Heckendorf |
Martin Luther |
Guard |
Kewaskum, WI |
| Mia Mabanag |
North Central |
Guard |
Danville, CA |
| Jasmine Sondrol |
Northwestern |
Forward |
Grand Forks, ND |
UMAC All-Defensive Team
| Name |
School |
Position |
Hometown |
| Malory Anderson |
Minnesota Morris |
Guard |
Morris, MN |
| Brycelyn Brewster |
North Central |
Guard |
Burnsville, MN |
| Jay Kwateh |
Minnesota Morris |
Forward |
Maple Grove, MN |
| Mady Sanders |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Guard |
Lino Lakes, MN |
| Taylor Schuck |
Northwestern |
Guard |
Maple Grove, MN |
UMAC Sportsmanship Awards
Team Award – Northwestern
Bethany Lutheran - Kaitlyn Berreau
Crown – Isabelle Sager
Martin Luther – Jayden Koehler
North Central – Jocelyn Talso
Northland – Ashley Lopez
Minnesota Morris – Grace Olson
Northwestern – Annika Dykstra
Wisconsin-Superior – Hailie Evans