ALLEN, Texas - Midwestern State has enjoyed a resurgent season in 2011-12 and the Mustangs hard work and dedication were recognized when league officials released the Lone Star Conference postseason awards.
Noel Johnson earned LSC Coach of the Year honors after guiding the team to a 19-7 mark and to its first trip to the league's postseason tournament since 2003. The Mustangs open bracket play with a quarterfinal matchup against Incarnate Word Thursday at the Allen Events Center. Tipoff is set for noon.
Senior guard
Savannah Carver earned first-team honors with her best season as a collegian. The Canyon Randall High product paced the Mustangs with a 15.9 scoring average including eight 20-point efforts including a career-best 27-point, 9-rebound effort earlier this season at Cameron.
The two-time All-LSC honorable mention pick needs 15 points to become a MSU's 17th 1,000-point scorer.
Senior forward
Cierra Thompson garnered honorable mention for the second straight campaign with a solid campaign as one of the top defenders in the LSC. The Llano High product carries averages of 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds a game into the postseason.
Sophomore guard
Kirsti Degelia also gained honorable mention with her consistent play scoring 11.6 points a game including 16 games with at least 10 points. She tallied a career-best 24 points in an 83-70 win over Angelo State earlier this month at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Dianna Jones shared LSC Freshman of the Year honors with Angelo State's Haylee Oliver. Jones averaged 8.8 points while connecting on 46.5 percent of her shots from beyond the arc in 19.3 minutes a game.
She is the first MSU player to earn top frosh honors since Lindy Lombard claimed the award following the 1998-99 season.
2012 All-Lone Star Conference Awards
Special Honors
Player of the Year
Sabelle Diata, Cameron
Defensive Player of the Year
Sabelle Diata, Cameron
Freshmen of the Year
Dianna Jones, Midwestern State
Haylee Oliver, Angelo State
Newcomers of the Year
Julie Paunovic, Cameron
Peyton Adamson, Tarleton State
Devin Griffin, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year
Noel Johnson, Midwestern State
First Team
| Player |
Team |
Pos. |
Year |
Hometown |
| Sabelle Diata |
Cameron |
C |
Sr. |
Dakar, Senegal |
| Shelby Adamson |
Tarleton State |
G |
Sr. |
Rockwall, Texas |
| Savannah Carver |
Midwestern State |
G |
Sr. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Mackenzie Lankford |
Abilene Christian |
G |
So. |
Weatherford, Texas |
| Jessica Hanna |
Texas Woman's |
F |
Sr. |
China Spring, Texas |
| Kenisha Harris |
West Texas A&M |
F |
So. |
Brock, Texas |
Second Team
| Player |
Team |
Pos. |
Year |
Hometown |
| Peyton Adamson |
Tarleton State |
G |
So. |
Rockwall, Texas |
| Paige Weishuhn |
Angelo State |
F |
Sr. |
Wall, Texas |
| Kiara Wright |
Tarleton State |
C |
So. |
Pittsburg, Texas |
| Percious Herrin |
Eastern N.M. |
C |
Sr. |
Shreveport, La. |
| Katy Cooke |
Incarnate Word |
G |
Jr. |
Marble Falls, Texas |
Honorable Mention
| Player |
Team |
Pos. |
Year |
Hometown |
| Julie Paunovic |
Cameron |
F |
Sr. |
Cairns, Australia |
| Ifunanya Mora |
Incarnate Word |
F |
So. |
Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Ashley Leven |
West Texas A&M |
C |
Sr. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Devin Griffin |
West Texas A&M |
F |
So. |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Britney Nuzum |
Texas Woman's |
G |
Jr. |
El Reno, Okla. |
| Joni Unruh |
West Texas A&M |
G |
Sr. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Cierra Thompson |
Midwestern State |
F |
Sr. |
Llano, Texas |
| Kirsti Degelia |
Midwestern State |
G |
So. |
Krum, Texas |
-- MSUMustangs.com --
