Three Skylights tabbed Frontier All-Conference

It’s already been a big season for the Montana State University-Northern Skylights, but Wednesday things got even better.

The Frontier Conference announced its 2013-14 All-Conference Team and postseason awards Wednesday and three deserving Skylights were honored.

Northern junior A’Jha Edwards, who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game and was second in the Frontier in blocked shots, was named First-Team All-Conference, but she also picked up the league’s Newcomer of the Year Award. Edwards came to Northern from Tuscon, Ariz., and has had an immediate impact on the program.

The Skylights also picked up two more All-Conference nods as both junior Rachelle Bennett and freshman Natalee Faupel were named Honorable Mention. Bennett scored nine points per game this season and was one of the most reliable defenders in the league. Faupel, a true freshman from Butte, averaged nine points and four rebounds per game, and during conference play, scored 11 points per outing.

As expected, now six-time league champion Westminster cleaned house on the postseason honors. Senior Alli Blake was named Frontier Player of the Year, while head coach Shelly Jarrard earned Coach of the Year honors. Tia Pappas won the Defensive Player of the Year and Amy Krommenhoek earned Sixth Player of the Year honors. LC State’s Caelyn Orlandi was named Freshman of the Year.

The Griffins had five players earn All-Conference honors, while Northern and UM-Western had three each. LC State, Montana Tech, Carroll and Great Falls each had two players selected, while Dickinson State and Rocky Mountain College had one each.

2013-14 Frontier Women's All-Conference Team

First Team

Tanis Fuller, LC State, 5-10, Jr.; A'Jha Edwards, MSU-Northern 6-5, Jr.; Lindsey Abramson, UGF, 6-2, Jr.; Erin Legel, UGF, 5-5, So.' Alli Blake, Westminster, 5-11, Sr.; Tia Pappas, Westminster, 5-7, Jr.

Second Team

Bailey Snelling, Carroll, 5-8, Jr.; Brittaney Niebergall, LC State, 5-3, Jr.; Mandy Machinal, Montana Tech, 5-7, Jr.; Sammi Bignell, UM-Western, 5-10, Sr.; Shelby Elsworth, Westminster, 5-11, So.

Honorable Mention

Rachelle Bennett, MSU-Northern, 5-7, Jr.; Natalee Faupel, MSIU-Northern 5-10, Fr.; Kalee Junkermeier, Carroll, 5-10, Jr.; Mariah Duran, Dickinson State, 5-5, Sr.; Caelyn Orlandi, LC State, 5-9, Fr.; Kelsey DeWit, Montana Tech, 6-2, Sr.; Jenna Banks, UM-Western, 5-3, Jr.; Roxy Thurman, UM-Western, 5-8, Sr.; Brittany Kumm. Rocky Mountain, 5-4, Sr.; Amy Krommenhoek, Westminster, 5-7, Jr.