2016-17 Women's Basketball All-Conference Awards Announced

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2017 All-AAC Women's Basketball Team on Wednesday, and Sarah Robinson of Milligan College is the AAC Player of the Year.

Robinson was also named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Rebecca Cheeks of Reinhardt University earned Freshman of the Year honors. Lindsey Huffman of Reinhardt is the Coach of the Year, while Milligan and Reinhardt are the AAC regular-season co-champions.

Robinson nearly averaged a double-double for the season, posting 14.9 points and 9.87 rebounds per game. She ranked 10th in the league in scoring but was tops in rebounding. Robinson earned the AAC Player of the Week award once this season. She scored a season-high 23 points three times this season and hauled in a season-best 18 rebounds against Truett McConnell University on Jan. 28. Robinson ranks sixth in NAIA Division II in total rebounds (296) and 14th in rebounds per game.

Joining Robinson on the All-AAC First Team are: Cheeks; Kamya Thomas of Allen University; Danae Cox of Bluefield College; Amber Levi of Bryan College; Hayley Wyrick of Milligan; Candace Rhodes of Point University; Hunter Simpson of Tennessee Wesleyan University; Ariana Sanders of Truett McConnell; and Maci Spence of Union College.

Making the All-AAC Second Team are: Dekoya Mack of Allen; Courtney Kendrick of Bluefield; Megan Billingsby of Bryan; Lindsee Price of Milligan; Raven Brown and Alexia Manning of Point; Bria White and Erika Woodfin of Reinhardt; LeeAysia Williamson of St. Andrews University; and Madison Walkup of Tennessee Wesleyan.

Cheeks was sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.3 points per game and was second in rebounding at 9.80 rebounds per game. A four-time AAC Player of the Week this season, she scored a season-high 29 points against Columbia College on Jan. 3. Cheeks ranks eighth in the nation in total rebounds (294).

Joining Cheeks on the All-Freshmen Team are: Victoria Washington and LeeAysia Williamson of St. Andrews; Savannah Atkins of Tennessee Wesleyan; Quinlan Hughes and Janea' Simpson of Truett McConnell; and Brianna Adler of Union.

Defensively, Robinson had 29 blocks and 43 steals to go along with her 9.87 rebounds per game. Joining her on the All-Defensive Team are: Kelly Barnett of Milligan; Cheeks, Jaleya Mosley, and Payton Smith of Reinhardt; and Nannilena White of Union.

Making the Champions of Character Team are: Resacia DeGraffenreidt of Allen; Hannah Preservati of Bluefield; Amber Levi of Bryan; Victoria Williams of Columbia; Kathryn Pryor of Milligan; Hannah Calloway of Montreat College; Deja Smith of Point; Sara Byers of Reinhardt; Kayla Johnson of St. Andrews; Kelsey Young of Tennessee Wesleyan; Anna Murr of Truett McConnell; and Sydney Jones of Union.

A total of 63 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-Conference Team with Milligan leading the way with 15 honorees.

For a complete list of the award winners, click here.