Kaza, Bowen Highlight All-Conference Awards

2/26/2026 10:21:36 AM

Natalya Kaza tops the list of the 2026 SLIAC Women's Basketball All-Conference award winners. Kaza, a senior at Lyon College, becomes the first Scot in program history to win the award after joining the league just three years ago. The guard led the SLIAC in scoring this season, putting up 22.4 points per game in her 16 conference contests. She was 4th in the league in three-point field goals while leading the league in free-throw percentage and finishing 6th in field-goal percentage. Kaza also averaged 6.8 rebounds per game and was second in steals with 46. Kaza had three 30 point games in conference play this season and holds the program's single-game scoring record. 

Akaela Caquelin continues Webster University's run of 6th Woman of the Year award winners, extending the streak to four years. Caquelin joins good company in becoming just the second player in SLIAC history to also win the Freshman of the Year award in the same season; joining former Westminster College standout Annette Ramirez (2022). Caquelin averaged 9.2 points in 14 conference games, leading the Gorloks with 26 three-pointers; ranking her fifth in the league. She added 5.4 rebounds per game and 25 steals. 

The 2026 SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year is MUW's Mia Bowen. The senior forward made her presence known in the paint, leading the league with 70 blocked shots in conference play. She currently ranks first in the NCAA Division III in blocks per game and second in total blocks. She is just the sixth player in conference history to reach 100 total blocks in a season.

This year's SLIAC Coach of the Year is Jordan Olufson, head coach of Webster University. Olufson led the Gorloks to a 14-2 conference record, securing a share of the regular season title for a conference record seventh consecutive season. This marks the third time in his career he was won the award. 

The last of the All-Conference awards are the sportsmanship award receipients. This year's team award goes to Greenville University while individual winners are: Gracie Jent (BC), Brooklyn Bowman (EC), Adeline Goheen (GU), Paris Halliburton (LC), Fantasia Wilson (MUW), Hannah Myers (PC), Nicole Hollowell (SU), Terryn Ford (WU), and Jamie Peffer (WC).

First Team All-Conference
Zaneiya Batiste, Spalding University
Mia Bowen, MUW
Meghan Illingworth, Webster University
Natalya Kaza, Lyon College
Miya Webb, Webster University

Second Team All-Conference
Conley Langford, MUW
Savanna Lopez, Lyon College
Trinniti Matthews, Principia College
Alyssa Seymour, Greenville University
Lamiya Terrell, Principia College

Third Team All-Conference
Eizaenirys Allende Quinones, Blackburn College
Taylor Brown, Principia College
Aly Bullock, Westminster College
Akaela Caquelin, Webster University
Ariana Williams, Principia College

All-Defensive Team
Zaneiya Batiste, Spalding University
Mia Bowen, MUW
Savanna Lopez, Lyon College
Lamiya Terrell, Principia College
Miya Webb, Webster University

All-Sportsmanship Team
Gracie Jent, Blackburn College
Brooklyn Bowman, Eureka College
Adeline Goheen, Greenville University
Paris Halliburton, Lyon College
Fantasia Wilson, MUW
Hannah Myers, Principia College
Nicole Hollowell, Spalding University
Terryn Ford, Webster University
Jamie Peffer, Westminster College