Kassidy De Jong was named to the 2017 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball All-American first team announced by the national office.
The Hospers native and Unity Christian graduate led the Red Raiders in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game, second most in the conference. The sophomore ranked fourth in the GPAC in rebounding (7.8), eighth in free throw percentage (77%) and dished out 30 assists. De Jong claimed All-American honorable mention honors last year.
De Jong scored in double figures in 23 of her 27 games played with seven double-doubles. She became the program’s 31st player to score 1,000 points, reaching that milestone in the Red Raiders’ loss to Concordia in the GPAC semifinals.
Northwestern finished the season with a 20-12 overall record, losing to No.5 Southeastern (Fla.) in the second round of the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship.
Lexi Ackerman of Morningside was named to the third team. The 5-10 senior guard from Rock Rapids was the Mustangs’ second leading scorer and rebounder this past season with career-high averages of 15.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She led Morningside with 107 assists and ranked second on the team with 57 steals for averages of 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per contest.
Ackerman made 181 of 384 field goal attempts for 47.1 percent, 39 of 111 3-point field goal attempts for 35.1 percent and 101 of 155 free throw attempts for 65.2 percent. Ackerman had career highs of 33 points against Northwestern College and 13 rebounds against Concordia University.
She averaged 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game over her Morningside career.
