Freije, Cardenas Highlight #BigSkyWBB All-Conference Teams
FARMINGTON, Utah (March 9, 2020) -- As the 2020 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Championship gets underway this week, the Big Sky Conference announced its 2019-20 All-Conference teams Monday morning as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Montana State had a historic season as they went 19-1 in conference play on their way to win the regular-season title for the third time in five years. Their conference record was the best in the program since the 1992-93 season.
The Bobcats rose to the top behind a roster full of talent that also included this year’s Big Sky Most Valuable Player, Fallyn Freije, who was a unanimous first-team selection. The senior forward helped lead the Bobcats to a regular-season title and a team average of 76.4 points per game. Freije averaged 13.7 points this season on 44.2 percent shooting to lead the Bobcats and finished the regular season ranked sixth in the conference in offensive production. Freije also ranks second in rebounds this year as she averaged 7.6 per game.
Joining Freije as a unanimous selection on the all-conference first team is Southern Utah’s, Rebecca Cardenas. The senior guard was also selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year as she led the conference all season in steals with a total of 87 to average 3.0 steals per game. Not just a defensive threat, Cardenas also led the conference in scoring by averaging 17.6 points per game this season.
Last season’s Freshman of the Year, Gina Marxen was also named first-team all-conference. Marxen played in every game this year for the Vandals and helped Idaho remain at the top of the conference. Marxen averaged 13.8 points per game and was fifth-best in the conference and also dished out 4.4 assists per game.
Northern Arizona’s Kiahrica Rasheed helped the Lumberjacks to their best conference season and highest postseason seed since the 2006-07 season. Rasheed ranks in the top-10 in the conference in points per game and rebounds. The junior forward was the league’s second-best scorer with an average of 16.8 points per game and fifth-best rebounder with 7.2 rebounds per game.
Rounding out the first team is Montana’s, Mckenzie Johnston. Johnston helped guide the Lady Griz to a top-four finish in the conference this season. The senior guard also ranked in the top-10 in the conference in two statistical categories. Johnston was seventh in scoring with an average of 13.1 points per game and second in assists with 5.0 assists per game.
The rest of the season awards went to Montana State’s Darian White who was named freshman of the year and Tori Martell who received top reserve honors. The newcomer of the year went to Northern Arizona’s Nina Radford.
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2019-20 Women’s Basketball All-Conference Team
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First Team
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Name
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Position
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School
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Year
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Fallyn Freije
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Forward
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Montana State
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Senior
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Rebecca Cardenas
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Guard
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Southern Utah
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Senior
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Khiarica Rasheed
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Forward
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Northern Arizona
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Junior
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Gina Marxen
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Guard
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Idaho
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Sophomore
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Mckenzie Johnston
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Guard
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Montana
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Senior
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Second Team
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Jacey Bailey
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Guard/Forward
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Northern Arizona
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Junior
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Callie Bourne
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Guard
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Idaho State
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Sophomore
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Kennedy Nicholas
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Forward
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Sacramento State
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Senior
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Dora Goles
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Guard
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Idaho State
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Junior
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Oliana Squires
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Guard
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Montana State
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Senior
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Third Team
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Beyonce Bea
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Guard
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Idaho
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Freshman
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Lizzy Klinker
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Forward
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Idaho
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Senior
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Kylie Jiminez
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Guard
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Portland State
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Junior
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Alexis Chapman
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Guard
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Northern Colorado
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Junior
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Desirae Hansen
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Guard
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Portland State
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Sophomore
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Honorable Mention
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Alisha Davis
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Forward
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Northern Colorado
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Freshman
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Caitlin Malvar
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Guard
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Northern Arizona
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Junior
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Bella Cravens
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Center
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Eastern Washington
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Sophomore
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Darian White
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Guard
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Montana State
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Freshman
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Harley Hansen
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Guard
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Southern Utah
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Senior
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Individual Awards
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Award
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Name
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School
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Most Valuable Player
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Fallyn Freije
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Montana State
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Defensive Player of the Year
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Rebecca Cardenas
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Southern Utah
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Newcomer of the Year
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Nina Radford
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Northern Arizona
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Freshman of the Year
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Darian White
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Montana State
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Top Reserve of the Year
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Tori Martell
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Montana State
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