ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Lindsey Waters of Union (Ky.) is the Appalachian Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year and Jeff Rice of Tennessee Wesleyan is the Coach of the Year as the league announced the 2011-12 All-AAC Team on Monday.

Mykiea Russell of Montreat (N.C.) is the Defensive Player of the Year, while Rainey Story of Virginia Intermont is the Freshman of the Year. Tennessee Wesleyan is the regular-season champion, and Milligan (Tenn.) is the Champions of Character Team award winner.

Waters has led the conference in scoring (21.7), rebounding (11.3) and blocks (2.61) all season. Nationally, she ranks second in total rebounds (351), third in rebounds per game, fourth in total blocks (81), blocks per game and total scoring (678), and fifth in points per game.

Joining Waters on the All-AAC First Team are Russell; Teonika Webb of Virginia Intermont; and Heather Gibson and Michelle Davis of Tennessee Wesleyan.

Making up the Second Team are Ebony Battle of Montreat; Kia Gilliard and Teqa McNeal of Bluefield (Va.); Kara Pile of Union; and Kayla  Kelly of Milligan.

Alisha Mainer and Johneshia Good of Milligan; Anna Thomas of Bryan (Tenn.); Erin Courington of Reinhardt (Ga.); and Kayla Orrick of Virginia Intermong each earned All-AAC Third Team honors.

Russell headlines the All-Defensive Team as she led the league in steals (2.37) and assists (6.13). She also averaged 14.8 points per game. 

Joining her on the All-Defensive Team are Waters; Webb; Good; Gibson; and Rochelle Davidson of Tennessee Wesleyan.

Story captured the Freshman of the Year award after averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. 

Rounding out the All-Freshmen Team are Kareen Abling of Reinhardt; Angelique Kenee Green of Columbia (S.C.); Chelsey Weddle of Milligan; Madison Thomas of Montreat; Brooke Hill of Union; and Mercedes Owens of Bryan.

A total of 35 student-athletes made the Academic All-Conference Team with Reinhardt, Tennessee Wesleyan and Union each placing six players on the squad.

To view the entire All-AAC Team and individual awards, click here.