University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Smith, Meyer, Leger-Walker all earn All-Big Sky honors
3/11/2019 9:21:00 AM | Women's Basketball
A trio of Northern Colorado women's basketball players earned All-Big Sky honors announced on Monday
BOISE, Idaho – A trio of Northern Colorado women's basketball players earned All-Big Sky honors as announced by the conference on Monday morning. For the third time in her career, Savannah Smith earned a first team honor and was a unanimous selection. Meanwhile, Ali Meyer and Krystal Leger-Walker each earned their first career honors. Meyer earned a spot on the third team, while Leger-Walker was an honorable mention.
Smith, has been sensational during her senior season averaging 23.6 points, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals. In conference play, she turned up her play another notch with 26.7 points, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals helping the Bears finish second in the league. She ranks nationally in the top 10 for scoring average (5th) and third in free throw percentage (93.1%).
During Big Sky play, Smith scored 20 or more points in 16 of the team's 20 games, including nine 30-plus point games and a pair of 40 point. She won six Big Sky Player of the Week honors during the 2018-19 regular season as well, along with becoming UNC's all-time scoring leader and leader in 3-pointers made. Since her sophomore season, Smith has been on the All-Big Sky team, joining former teammate D'shara Strange as the only two Bears to achieve this feat.
In her first season playing with the Bears, Ali Meyer earned a spot on the third team All-Big Sky by leading the conference in rebounding with 11.3 per game. She put up double-digit rebounds in 22 games this season including 15 during the Big Sky portion of the schedule. Her work on the glass was a key to success for UNC this season as she also added in 6.8 points and 1.0 steals a game while often drawing the opponent's top player to guard. Meyer also put her name in the UNC record book this season with her 329 rebounds to take the top spot in rebounds in a single season.
Krystal Leger-Walker also earned her first-ever All-Big Sky honor by making it on the honorable mentions list. The junior guard did a little bit of everything for UNC during the season with 9.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Her 5.7 assists average led the Big Sky and ranks 16th in the nation. In conference play, she averaged 9.1 points, 5.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
The trio of Bears honored on Monday, along with the rest of their teammates will start their play in the Big Sky Tournament on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 pm in Boise, Idaho. UNC will face the winner of Monday's Montana-Southern Utah game.
First Team
Savannah Smith, Northern Colorado*
Taylor Pierce, Idaho*
Mikayla Ferenz, Idaho*
Grace Kenyon, Idaho State
Sidney Rielly, Portland State
Second Team
Violet Kapri Morrow, Eastern Washington
Hannah Friend, Sacramento State
Ashley Bolston, Portland State
Saylair Grandon, Idaho State
Jace Henderson, Montana
Third Team
Ali Meyer, Northern Colorado
Kaleigh Paplow, Northern Arizona
Claire Lundberg, Montana State
Oliana Squires, Montana State
J'aiamoni Welch-Coleman, Weber State
Honrable Mentions: Krystal Leger-Walker, Northern Colorado, Rebecca Cardenas, Southern Utah, Kylie Jimenez, Portland State, Kennedy Nicholas, Sacramento State, Estafani Ors, Idaho State, Grace Kirscher, Eastern Washington
MVP: Mikayla Ferenz, Idaho
Newcomer of the Year: Claire Lundberg, Montana State
Freshman of the Year: Gina Marxen, Idaho
Defensive Player of the Year: Courtney West, Portland State
Top Reserve: Uriah Howard, Eastern Washington & Desirae Hansen, Portland State
To stay up to date with all things UNC women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsWBB.
Smith, has been sensational during her senior season averaging 23.6 points, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals. In conference play, she turned up her play another notch with 26.7 points, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals helping the Bears finish second in the league. She ranks nationally in the top 10 for scoring average (5th) and third in free throw percentage (93.1%).
During Big Sky play, Smith scored 20 or more points in 16 of the team's 20 games, including nine 30-plus point games and a pair of 40 point. She won six Big Sky Player of the Week honors during the 2018-19 regular season as well, along with becoming UNC's all-time scoring leader and leader in 3-pointers made. Since her sophomore season, Smith has been on the All-Big Sky team, joining former teammate D'shara Strange as the only two Bears to achieve this feat.
In her first season playing with the Bears, Ali Meyer earned a spot on the third team All-Big Sky by leading the conference in rebounding with 11.3 per game. She put up double-digit rebounds in 22 games this season including 15 during the Big Sky portion of the schedule. Her work on the glass was a key to success for UNC this season as she also added in 6.8 points and 1.0 steals a game while often drawing the opponent's top player to guard. Meyer also put her name in the UNC record book this season with her 329 rebounds to take the top spot in rebounds in a single season.
Krystal Leger-Walker also earned her first-ever All-Big Sky honor by making it on the honorable mentions list. The junior guard did a little bit of everything for UNC during the season with 9.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Her 5.7 assists average led the Big Sky and ranks 16th in the nation. In conference play, she averaged 9.1 points, 5.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
The trio of Bears honored on Monday, along with the rest of their teammates will start their play in the Big Sky Tournament on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 pm in Boise, Idaho. UNC will face the winner of Monday's Montana-Southern Utah game.
First Team
Savannah Smith, Northern Colorado*
Taylor Pierce, Idaho*
Mikayla Ferenz, Idaho*
Grace Kenyon, Idaho State
Sidney Rielly, Portland State
Second Team
Violet Kapri Morrow, Eastern Washington
Hannah Friend, Sacramento State
Ashley Bolston, Portland State
Saylair Grandon, Idaho State
Jace Henderson, Montana
Third Team
Ali Meyer, Northern Colorado
Kaleigh Paplow, Northern Arizona
Claire Lundberg, Montana State
Oliana Squires, Montana State
J'aiamoni Welch-Coleman, Weber State
Honrable Mentions: Krystal Leger-Walker, Northern Colorado, Rebecca Cardenas, Southern Utah, Kylie Jimenez, Portland State, Kennedy Nicholas, Sacramento State, Estafani Ors, Idaho State, Grace Kirscher, Eastern Washington
MVP: Mikayla Ferenz, Idaho
Newcomer of the Year: Claire Lundberg, Montana State
Freshman of the Year: Gina Marxen, Idaho
Defensive Player of the Year: Courtney West, Portland State
Top Reserve: Uriah Howard, Eastern Washington & Desirae Hansen, Portland State
To stay up to date with all things UNC women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsWBB.
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