Rochester, MN -
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) women's basketball coaches have selected their 15-member MCAC North and South All-Division teams, MCAC All-Defensive team, division coaches-of-the-year, and division players-of-the-year for the 2023-24 season. The ten players receiving the most votes in each division were also named to the All-MCAC Team.
In the North Division, Destiny Piekarski, a freshman forward at Minnesota North College - Rainy River, was selected as the MCAC North Player-of-the-Year. Piekarski started 23 games for the Voyageurs, averaging 25.3 points per game and 14.0 rebounds per game this season. She shot 45.6% from the field and 77.8% from the free-throw line while blocking 40 shots and stealing 83 balls in her 23 games this season. Piekarski led the MCAC North in points per game and rebounds per game and ranked second in field goals (81-168), rebounds (135), blocks (17), and total points (212) during North Division contests. She helped her team earn a #3 seed from the North in the NJCAA Region 13B Tournament, and the Voyageurs will take on Minnesota West Community and Technical College on Saturday.
Shannon Nelson, head coach at Northland Community and Technical College, was named the MCAC North Coach-of-the-Year after leading her team to a 21-4 overall record and an undefeated 7-0 record in the MCAC North Division. Her Pioneers' team won the MCAC North and is currently ranked #3 in the nation in the latest NJCAA DIII Women's Basketball poll. The Pioneers are the North #1 seed in the NJCAA Region 13B Tournament and will face Minnesota State Community and Technical College in the tournament on Saturday.
Olivia Hayenga, guard for Minnesota West Community & Technical College, was selected as the MCAC South Player-of-the-Year. The sophomore from Worthington, MN, was the MCAC South Player of the Year in 2023 as well. Hayenga averaged 22.8 points per game, shooting 45.1% from the field and 77% from the free throw line this season. In her 28 games this season, Hayenga compiled 102 steals, 151 assists, and 71 blocks, while averaging 11.9 rebounds per game. She led the MCAC South in field goals (100-213), free throws (67-79), free throw percentage (84.8%), rebounds (172), blocks (24), and total points (284) in division games. The Lady Jays finished the regular season ranked #2 in the nation with a 21-7 overall record and a 10-2 South Division record. The Lady Jays will take the #2 seed from the South into the NJCAA Region 13B Tournament on Saturday and face Minnesota North College - Rainy River in their first contest.
Rochester Community & Technical College's head women's basketball coach, Jason Bonde, was named the MCAC South Coach-of-the-Year after leading his Yellowjackets team to the MCAC South Division title, a 20-3 overall record, and the NJCAA DIII Women's Basketball #1 ranking. Following a 2023 season in which the Yellowjackets won the NJCAA DIII National Championship, Bonde rallied his young team to an 11-1 record in the MCAC South, and they will have the NJCAA Region 13A Tournament's top seed. On Saturday, the Yellowjackets will play the winner of the Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range/Riverland Community College play-in game.
The complete list of the MCAC North and South All-Division members is below, as is the All-MCAC Team and 10-member All-Defensive Team for the 2023-24 season.
All-Division Teams
North Division |
|||||
| MNC-Rainy River | Destiny Piekarski | F | FR | 1st Team | *North Division Player of the Year |
| Northland | Emma Osborn | SG | SO | 1st Team | |
| Central Lakes | Alyssa Torgerson | C | SO | 1st Team | |
| Northland | Tiyana Schwinghammer | F | FR | 1st Team | |
| Northland | Josie Iverson | PG | FR | 1st Team | |
| Central Lakes | Kalli Papenfuss | G | SO | 2nd Team | |
| Northland | Riley Mooney | F | SO | 2nd Team | |
| MN North Vermilion | Sophia Morón | G | FR | 2nd Team | |
| Central Lakes | Nevaeh Hughes | F | SO | 2nd Team | |
| MNC-Rainy River | Cara Polk | G | SO | 2nd Team | |
| MNC-Rainy River | Maddie Lowe | F | SO | Honorable Mention | |
| MNC-Mesabi Range | Deetra Davis | F | SO | Honorable Mention | |
| Central Lakes | Chesney Phillipp | F | FR | Honorable Mention | |
| MN North Vermilion | Ceryiah "CeCe" Bradford | G | FR | Honorable Mention | |
| MNC-Rainy River | Cyra Polk | G | SO | Honorable Mention | |
| Coach of the Year | Shannon Nelson | Northland |
South Division |
|||||
| MN West | Olivia Hayenga | G | SO | 1st Team | *South Division Player of the Year |
| RCTC | Macaya Copeland | PG | FR | 1st Team | |
| Anoka Ramsey | Alani Pettis | P/F | SO | 1st Team | |
| MN West | Hattie DeVries | F | SO | 1st Team | |
| RCTC | Jada James | F | So | 1st Team | |
| M-State | Jayna Gronewold | G | SO | 2nd Team | |
| RCTC | Cassidy Shute | G | FR | 2nd Team | |
| Anoka Ramsey | Makayla Holten | P/F | SO | 2nd Team | |
| M-State | Itzel Salazar | G | SO | 2nd Team | |
| RCTC | Aniyah Reuben | F | FR | 2nd Team | |
| SCTCC | Rylie DeMaine | G | SO | Honorable Mention | |
| Anoka Ramsey | Bella Kanz | C | FR | Honorable Mention | |
| Riverland CC | Kenai Holien | G | SO | Honorable Mention | |
| MN West | Audrey Drapeau | PG | SO | Honorable Mention | |
| Riverland CC | Barbora Frankova | G | FR | Honorable Mention | |
| Coach of the Year | Jason Bonde | Rochester |
All-MCAC Team
| MNC-Rainy River | Destiny Piekarski | F | FR |
| Northland | Emma Osborn | SG | SO |
| Central Lakes | Alyssa Torgerson | C | SO |
| Northland | Tiyana Schwinghammer | F | FR |
| Northland | Josie Iverson | PG | FR |
| Central Lakes | Kalli Papenfuss | G | SO |
| Northland | Riley Mooney | F | SO |
| MN North Vermilion | Sophia Morón | G | FR |
| Central Lakes | Nevaeh Hughes | F | SO |
| MNC-Rainy River | Cara Polk | G | SO |
| MN West | Olivia Hayenga | G | SO |
| RCTC | Macaya Copeland | PG | FR |
| Anoka Ramsey | Alani Pettis | P/F | SO |
| MN West | Hattie DeVries | F | SO |
| RCTC | Jada James | F | So |
| M-State | Jayna Gronewold | G | SO |
| RCTC | Cassidy Shute | G | FR |
| Anoka Ramsey | Makayla Holten | P/F | SO |
| M-State | Itzel Salazar | G | SO |
| RCTC | Aniyah Reuben | F | FR |
MCAC All-Defensive Team
| RCTC | Macaya Copeland | PG | FR |
| MN West | Olivia Hayenga | G | SO |
| Anoka Ramsey | Alani Pettis | P/F | SO |
| Anoka Ramsey | Makayla Holten | P/F | SO |
| RCTC | Cassidy Shute | G | FR |
| Northland | Shavonda Bender | F | SO |
| Central Lakes | Kalli Papenfuss | G | SO |
| Northland | Riley Mooney | F | SO |
| MNC-Rainy River | Azahriah Ellis | G | SO |
| MNC-Rainy River | Destiny Piekarski | F | FR |
This release sponsored by:
|
About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.