VU duo named All-American

Vanguard University junior Lisa Faulkner and Lions freshman Kelly

Schmidt, who led the VU women’s basketball team to the NAIA Division

I quarterfinals and a school-record 31 wins, have been named

All-American by NAIA coaches.

Faulkner, a UC Irvine transfer who led NAIA Division I in assists

(9.7 per game), is a first-team choice.

Schmidt, out of Glendale, Ariz. is a second-team honoree, after

averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Golden State Athletic

Conference champions.

Faulkner, 5-foot-5, also averaged 13 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6

steals while helping the Lions come within one victory of their

second straight Final Four appearance. She shot 85.6% from the

free-throw line (83 for 97), 44.1% from the field and 39.2% from

three-point range (73 for 186).

She is the program’s first first-team All-American, eight-year

coach Russ Davis said.

Schmidt, a 6-0 forward, shot 57.8% from the field (218 for 372)

and 77.5% from the foul line (227 for 293). She was also named to the

NAIA All-Tournament team.

NAIA coaches selected 10 first-team honorees and 10 on the second team. Faulkner was among three juniors on the senior-dominated first

team.

Vanguard, which won the GSAC regular-season and postseason

tournament titles, was eliminated in the NAIA quarterfinals by

Brescia of Kentucky to finish 31-3.

Oklahoma City University senior Keisha Watson is the Player of the

Year.

-- Barry Faulkner