INDIANAPOLIS – After sharing the regular season title with matching 15-3 conference records, Green Bay and Wright State are highlighted in the all-league first team with Mehryn Kraker and Chelsea Welch. Each school received equal representation in voting with the head coach, sports information director and one media member from each institution taking part by casting their ballots for deciding the postseason awards.
In addition to earning all-league honors, Kraker was selected as the Horizon League Player of the Year after averaging 18.5 points in Horizon League play. In particular, Kraker shined against Detroit Mercy scoring 35 points which was the most by any Horizon League player in a single game this season.
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Welch led the conference in scoring as she averaged just a shade under 20 points per game. Joining Welch on the first team is Rosanna Reynolds who guided Detroit Mercy to a 12-6 record and the number three seed in the tournament. Ashanti Abshaw jumped up to the first team after finishing on the second team in her freshman season. Hannah Little rounded out the first team by tying the league lead with 12 double-doubles on the year.
Representing the second team, Dani Franklin led the league in three-point shooting at a 42.6 percent clip on the year. Khayla Livingston, Jessica Lindstrom and Brianne Cohen all join their teammates earning all-league honors for Cleveland State, Green Bay and Detroit Mercy, respectively. Steph Kostowicz received recognition on the second team after averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds for the season.
After clinching Wright State’s first ever regular season championship in women’s basketball, head coach Katrina Merriweather was awarded coach of the year. The Raiders went 23-7 in Merriweather’s first year as the head coach of the program.
Mary Dunn was the overwhelming pick for freshman of the year after recording 17 games with double-figure point totals for Youngstown State. Cleveland State’s Jade Ely, Detroit Mercy’s Anja Marinkovic, Milwaukee’s Lizzie Odegard, and Green Bay’s Caitlyn Hibner all played big minutes on teams that are at least .500 or better in conference play to earn all-freshman team recognition alongside Dunn.
Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Little headlines the all-defensive team. Playing the forward position, Little was fourth in the nation in rebounds per game (11.6) and eleventh in steals per game (3.28). Jen Wellnitz and Jessica Lindstrom were strong components of a stifling Green Bay defense that allowed just 50.3 points per game for the entire year. Valparaiso’s Amber Lindfors and Northern Kentucky’s Rebecca Lyttle fill out the all-defensive team.
Playing starter minutes coming off the bench, Taylor Jones claimed the sixth player of the year for Oakland. The scorer led the Golden Grizzlies in points averaging 15.2 points per game on the year.
The 2017 Little Caesars Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship will begin on Friday, March 3 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich. with the title game set to take place on Tuesday, March 7. All of the games will be featured on the ESPN family of networks highlighted by the championship game set to air on ESPNU. For more information on the tournament, visit motorcitymadness.horizonleague.com today.
2016-17 POSTSEASON VOTING
ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Chelsea Welch, Wright State
Mehryn Kraker, Green Bay
Rosanna Reynolds, Detroit Mercy
Ashanti Abshaw, Cleveland State
Hannah Little, Oakland
SECOND TEAM
Dani Franklin, Valparaiso
Khayla Livingston, Cleveland State
Jessica Lindstrom, Green Bay
Steph Kostowicz, Milwaukee
Brianne Cohen, Detroit Mercy
FRESHMAN TEAM
Mary Dunn, Youngstown State
Jade Ely, Cleveland State
Anja Marinkovic, Detroit Mercy
Lizzie Odegard, Milwaukee
Caitlyn Hibner, Green Bay
DEFENSIVE TEAM
Hannah Little, Oakland
Jen Wellnitz, Green Bay
Jessica Lindstrom, Green Bay
Amber Lindfors, Valparaiso
Rebecca Lyttle, Northern Kentucky
SPECIALTY AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mehryn Kraker, Green Bay
COACH OF THE YEAR
Katrina Merriweather, Wright State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Mary Dunn, Youngstown State
DEFENSIVE OF THE YEAR
Hannah Little, Oakland
SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Taylor Jones, Oakland
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The Horizon League is an NCAA Division I athletics conference comprised of 10 member institutions located throughout the Midwest’s major metropolitan cities. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the League and its members strive to be highly competitive athletically while committing to the total development of its student-athletes and creating a lasting impact on campus and in the community.
Tags: Horizon League - Women's Basketball
