2017-18 All-AAC Women's Basketball Awards Announced

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference announced the 2017-18 All-AAC Women's Basketball Team and Awards, and Hunter Simpson of Tennessee Wesleyan is the Player of the Year.

The All-AAC Team and Awards were announced at the 2018 AAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments on Wednesday, and the honors were selected by the coaches.

Other individual honorees include: Jasmine Knight of Brenau as Defensive Player of the Year, Karli Combs of Bryan as the Freshman of the Year, and Lindsey Huffman of Reinhardt as the Coach of the Year.

Simpson leads the AAC in scoring with a 19.2 points-per-game average. She also averages 6.8 rebounds per game and was named the AAC Player of the Week four times. During the season, Simpson collected her 1,000th career point and 500th career rebounds.

Knight paced the conference in rebounding with a 9.01 average, which ranks her 20th in NAIA Division II. She also dished out 131 assists, which are 16th-most in the nation. Knight averaged 8.3 points per game.

Combs leads Bryan with 14.3 points per game, hitting 42.8 percent of her shots. She also averaged 2.7 rebounds per game and had 34 assists, 18 steals, and four blocks.

Simpson and Combs earned spots on the All-AAC First Team. Joining them are: Rebecca Cheeks of Reinhardt, Danae Cox of Bluefield, Autumn Dodson of Brenau, Amber Levi of Bryan, Deandra Luna of Bryan, Candace Rhodes of Point, Sarah Robinson of Milligan, and Kamya Thomas of Allen.

Knight landed on the All-AAC Second Team. Joining her are: Logan Calvert of Union, Jada Hubbard of Reinhardt, Alexia Manning of Point, Jaleya Mosley of Reinhardt, Morgan Perkins of St. Andrews, Hannah Preservati of Bluefield, Mackenzie Raizor of Milligan, Samantha Ring of St. Andrews, and Madison Walkup of Tennessee Wesleyan.

Joining Knight on the All-Defensive Team are Mosley, Robinson, Thomas, and Tonesha Allison of Bryan.

Making up the All-Freshmen Team are Combs, Calvert, Luna, Perkins, Ring, Ashanti Brown of Brenau, and Shayla Ludy of Bryan.

Earning a spot on the Champions of Character Team are Allison, Jamie Bunting of Brenau, Katie Dillion of Montreat, Anika Galindo of Allen, Morgan Garnett of Union, Aquera Johnson of St. Andrews, Emiley Masloski of Columbia, Anna Murr of Truett McConnell, JessAnn Nix of Reinhardt, Deja Smith of Point, Madison Walkup of Tennessee Wesleyan, and Madison of Wilson of Milligan.

Sixty-seven student-athletes were named to the All-Academic Team.

To view the entire list of the All-AAC Team and Awards, click here.