MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College landed six postseason honors from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, highlighted by sophomore guard
Lily Oiler being named Defensive Player of the Year and the Warriors' coaching staff earning Coaching Staff of the Year accolades, it was announced by the league office on Thursday.
In addition, sophomore forward
Abby Cole and junior forward
Margie Stevens were selected First Team All-NACC, freshman guard
Kenly Frey and senior guard/forward
Jayden Hill received Second Team All-NACC recognition.
Oiler (Watertown, Wis.) becomes the fifth player in program history to be named NACC Defensive Player of the Year, accounting for six total honors. The sophomore has started all 26 games this season and averages 2.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. She tied a career high with seven points on three separate occasions and recorded a career-high six rebounds on December 4 versus Aurora. Oiler was assigned to defend the opponent's best guards and best scorers.
Twenty-second-year head coach
Klay Knueppel guided WLC to its 14th NACC regular-season title and the program's 14th 20-plus win season. It marks the eighth time Knueppel or a Knueppel-led staff has been recognized as Coach of the Year by the conference.
Cole (Fond du Lac, Wis.) earned her first career All-NACC honor after starting all 26 games. The sophomore averages 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest. She has recorded seven double-doubles and scored in double figures in 14 games. Cole poured in a season-high 22 points on January 21 versus Lakeland and grabbed a season-best 13 rebounds on December 29 against Illinois Wesleyan.
Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) secured her third consecutive First Team All-NACC selection. The junior has started all 26 games and leads the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game while adding 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest. She has reached double figures in 21 games, highlighted by a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds on December 6 at Lakeland.
Frey (Brookfield, Wis.) made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season, starting all 25 games she has played. The freshman averages 12.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, reaching double figures 14 times. She scored a season-high 26 points on December 29 versus Illinois Wesleyan, collected a season-best eight rebounds on December 13 against UW-Platteville, and dished out a season-high six assists on December 20 versus Milwaukee.
Hill (Kenosha, Wis.) earned her second career All-NACC honor after starting all 26 games. The senior averages 7.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game and has recorded two double-doubles this season. She scored a season-high 13 points on February 18 versus Edgewood and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds twice – February 4 at Aurora and February 14 at Dominican. Hill also tied a career high with seven steals on November 18 versus Marian.
Top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran (21-5) next hosts fourth-seeded Milwaukee School of Engineering (18-6) on Friday at 7 p.m. in a NACC Tournament Semifinal matchup. The Warriors defeated MSOE 59-54 in their lone regular-season meeting on January 28 at Time of Grace Center. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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