Schmidt nets honor

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Vanguard University junior Kelly Schmidt has been named the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Assn. NAIA Player of the Year for both Divisions I and II.

Schmidt, a 6-toot forward who earned All-American honors her first two seasons and recently earned Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year laurels for a second straight season, was recognized at a banquet Tuesday, before the NAIA Division I Championships tipped off Wednesday.

Schmidt was not the only Lion recognized. Coach Russ Davis was named NAIA Region I Coach of the Year by the WBCA and the Lions also received the NAIA’s Team Character Award, as part of the NAIA’s Champions of Character program.

Heading into today’s second-round game against Cumberlands (Kentucky), Schmidt is averaging 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and is shooting 57.9% from the field. She has also made 176 of 225 free-throw attempts to help lead the Lions to a 29-1 record.

Davis, who guided the Lions to an unprecedented fourth straight Golden State Athletic Conference regular season title, is 256-75 in 10 seasons at Vanguard after the Lions’ 91-46 first-round win over Texas College. That’s a .773 winning percentage.

Schmidt will be formally presented with her award at a WBCA luncheon on April 2, as part of the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Boston.

The WBCA Award is separate from the NAIA Division I Player of the Year honor, which will be announced next week.