Women's Basketball reflects on title-winning season
MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia Wisconsin's Women's Basketball team celebrated its 2016-17 season with a postseason awards banquet. The Falcons handed out awards for the season and celebrated its senior class as well.
CUW posted a 22-5 overall record in 2016-17 and won the NACC regular season with an 18-2 record to secure the No. 1 seed in the NACC Tournament. Of the many team accomplishments, senior Taylor DeLong (Milwaukee, Wis.) ended her career with the program's single-season record for field goal percentage (57.1) and tied the career record (54.3).
DeLong was named All-NACC First Team; while senior Samantha Blissett (Springfield, Ill.), junior Audrey Scharmer (Winona, Minn.) and junior Brianna Wagner (Fond du Lac, Wis.) each were named All-NACC Second Team.
Head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones was named the NACC Coach of the Year.
Team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year: Samantha Blissett started all 27 games and led the team in assists (114) and steals (61). She also averaged 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while playing a team-high 31.1 minutes per game. Blissett was the Falcons best on-ball defender and guarded the opposition's best offensive player each game. She ended her career ranked fifth in the NCAA-era (1997-present) for assists (213) and sixth in steals (138).
Newcomer of the Year: Clara Chambers (freshman, Darlington, Wis.) started the season's first nine games before a season-ending knee injured derailed her rookie year. She averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Most Improved: Kelsey Herrera (junior, Chicago, Ill.) appeared in two games throughout the season. The forward has appeared in nine career games, scored five points and grabbed three rebounds.
Varsity Reserve Player of the Year: Elizabeth Hafemann (junior, Hales Corners, Wis.) played multiple positions and led the varsity reserve in scoring.
Scout Player of the Year: (awarded to the player who made significant contributions to the success of the team but may not have necessarily received the credit they deserved in the public eye) Vicki Jansen (sophomore, Muskego, Wis.) helped the varsity consistency prepare by running the opposition's plays and set.
Season Highlights
* had a seven-game home winning streak to start the year
* won eight-consecutive games from January 28 to February 23
* ranked first in the NACC for field goal percentage (42.2), fewest turnovers per game (14.0) and points allowed per game (54.2) - was top-3 in eight statistical categories
Individual Records
* Taylor DeLong - highest field goal percentage in a season (57.1)
* Taylor DeLong - tied career field goal percentage (54.3)
Team Records
* most assists in a season (408)
* highest assists average in a season (15.1)
* best field goal percentage defense (36.2)
