Four Collect All-Heart Recognition, Williamson Tabbed at COY
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–Five members of the William Penn women’s basketball program were honored as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced by the league office Monday.
Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) was voted to the Heart’s first team, while Kate Ylitalo (So., Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) collected a second-team nod. Sarah Hansen (Sr., Kewanee, Ill., Psychology) and Jenna Santi (Jr., Oak Creek, Wis., Sports Management) were each named to the league’s honorable-mention squad.
The award is the third of Nwagbaraocha’s career, while her trio of teammates are all honored for the first time in their careers. The four acknowledgements tie the 2012-2013 team for the most in program history.
Nwagbaraocha has moved up one level in each of her three collegiate seasons to finally earn a spot on the first team. She is just the sixth player ever at WPU to earn at least three all-conference laurels.
A total of 47 student-athletes received recognition from the conference, including 10 on the first team, 11 on the second squad, and 26 on the honorable-mention list.
Head Coach Steve Williamson was also lauded for his tremendous work in his first year at William Penn by being picked as Heart Coach of the Year. It is the fourth COY accolade of his career and the third ever in Statesmen history (first since 1988).
The quartet of Statesmen and their head skipper guided WPU to a regular season record of 21-7, including a 15-4 mark in the Heart. The navy and gold, who have earned the #2 seed for the league tournament, will be seeking a second-consecutive trip to the national tournament.
Nwagbaraocha enters the conference tourney averaging 15.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game–both team highs. She has also posted a team high in steals with 61 in addition to 42 assists and 18 blocks (also a squad best). A one-time Heart Player of the Week, the junior is now 58.4% from the field and 70.0% from the free-throw line.
She ranks high within the Heart in numerous categories, highlighted by being second in field-goal percentage, total steals, and steals per game (2.2). Nwagbaraocha is also third in offensive rebounds per game (3.0), fourth in both scoring average and total rebounds (226), fifth in both rebounding average and double-doubles (7), sixth in defensive rebounds per game (5.1), and 10th in free-throw percentage.
Ylitalo currently averages 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in addition to 46 steals, 35 assists, and six blocks. The sophomore is shooting 46.7% overall, including a WPU-high 47.2% mark from the perimeter; she also makes 61.8% of her free throws.
One of the best long-range threats in the league, she ranks second in the Heart in three-point percentage. Ylitalo is also eighth in both total three-pointers (59) and three-pointers made per game (2.1), as well as being 10th in total steals.
Hansen is producing 14.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per outing, while also securing 35 assists, 40 steals, and one block. The senior owns a 36.7% shooting clip (36.6% 3-PT) and is WPU’s best at the charity stripe at 80.9%. She is a one-time Heart Player of the Week.
Hansen currently tops the conference in free-throw percentage. She is also second in three-pointers made per game (2.9), third in total three-pointers made (74), and eighth in both scoring average and three-point percentage.
Santi has led William Penn at the point, managing 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds, but more importantly recording 5.6 assists per contest (158 total). She is 41.7% from the floor (42.9% 3-PT) and 74.1% at the stripe.
The junior is second in the Heart in both assists per game and total assists, and is also seventh in assist/turnover ratio at 1.8-to-1.
DaJonee Hale of Central Methodist won the Heart Player of the Year award, while Alisha Washington of MidAmerica Nazarene collected the Newcomer of the Year accolade. Clarke’s Kea Whittington (Defensive Player of the Year) and Makenna Haase (Freshman of the Year) also brought home league hardware.
