Johnson & Wales racks up all-conference honors

The Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) announced the 2010-2011 all-conference honors for Division II women's basketball today. Johnson & Wales University had two Wildcats named to the first team and one to the second team. In addition, first year head coach Jeff Neal was named by his peers as the A.I.I. Division II Coach of the Year.

Andrea Austin (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Samantha Neal (Golden, Colo.) were both honored as members of the first team. This is the second such honor for Austin who was also named all-conference last season. Austin averaged 13.3 points per game and had a career high 33 points in the Wildcats regular season finale. She finishes her career at JWU as the number one scorer in JWU history with 1,254 points.

Neal is in her first season with the Wildcats having transferred from Colorado Christian University where she played last season for the Cougars. Neal has made quite an impression in just one year at Johnson & Wales University. She averaged 12.83 points per game and is the second leading scorer this season for the Wildcats.

Jessica Huebner (Centennial, Colo.) was selected to the second team all-conference in her first year at JWU. Huebner, a transfer from Westminster College, brought down a team high 8.52 rebounds per game and showed great defense under the glass for the Wildcats. She had a season high 17 boards in a conference win over Walla Walla University.

Head Coach Jeff Neal was also recognized as the A.I.I. Division II Coach of the Year. In his first season at the helm, Neal guided the Wildcats to their best season in program history. Neal's squad ranks number nine in all of NAIA in total three-point field goals made (255) and three-point field goals per game (8.793). Coach Neal graduates just three seniors from this remarkable team and has built a solid foundation for the future.

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Sharon Houston – Indiana University Northwest

Steffani Liscum – Southwestern College

Andrea Austin – Johnson & Wales University

Nisa Duran - Northern New Mexico College

Samantha Neal – Johnson & Wales University

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Casey Williams – Central Baptist College

Juliette Keller – Indiana University Northwest

Myisha Johnson – Philander Smith College

Jessica Huebner – Johnson & Wales University

Jessica Largo – Southwestern College

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sharon Houston – Indiana University Northwest

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Nisa Duran - Northern New Mexico College

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jeff Neal – Johnson & Wales University