NCAA Women, All Classes Combined, Ranked Statistically. The Top Fives.
Heretofore, I have reviewed the three NCAA divisions separately. And that makes sense. But, as a season wrap-up, I combine the three divisions and lay out the Top Five in the statistical categories.
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Yes, there are difference in the level of play in the three NCAA divisions. But, they aren’t exclusive. Not at all. There is a lot of overlap where a lower division player would also play in a higher division. The cream of DII can easily play DI, and the cream of DIII can easily play DII. This edition takes a look at the cream that originated from Missouri and Kansas. Fly-over country to some, but conference leaders to many. Below, I lay out the top five from our two states in 19 statistical categories.
With a top five in each of 19 categories, that results in 95 places to fill. Here is how they are filled by division:
Division 1-31
Division 2-50
Division 3-14
And many of these ladies will be back as relatively few played their last year. Here is the breakdown by year:
Graduate Student-7
Fifth Year-3
Senior-20
Junior-24
Sophomore-35
Freshmen-6
The complete statistics for all 390 DI, DII, and DIII ladies are contained in a spreadsheet at the end of this article.
The number of minutes played in a season is dependent upon a number of things such as how many games are played. For most colleges, that would be 30-35. Also, how important the coach believes it is that you are on the court, and that can be for several reasons. But, it all comes down to stamina. Conditioning. And desire. Minutes played should lead to an Ironman’s Award.
Serena Sundell (Maryville) led the Big 12 Conference in total minutes played while Layne Skiles (Purdy) led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. As a freshman, Taylor Brown (Lift for Life Academy) led the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in minutes per game and in minutes per game. Emily Ryan (Central Plains) led the Big 12 Conference in minutes per game.
Total Minutes Played
1,203 - Serena Sundell - Maryville - Sophomore - Kansas State - Division 1
1,172 - Brooke Flowers - Metro Academic & Classical -Senior - St. Louis University - Division 1
1,162 - Emily Ryan - Central Plains - Junior - Iowa State - Division 1
1.157 - Jaelyn Glenn - Barstow - Sophomore - Kansas State - Division 1
1,149 - Layne Skiles - Purdy - Senior - Missouri Southern State - Division II
Minutes per Game
37.7 - Re’Shawna Stone - Waynesville - Graduate Student - Univ. of Buffalo - Division I
36.7 - Morgan Ramthun - Incarnate Word Academy - Freshman - Missouri-St. Louis - Division II
36.3 - Taylor Brown - Lift for Life Academy - Freshman - Principia College - Division III
36.3 - Emily Ryan - Central Plains - Junior - Iowa State - Division I
35.1 - Peyton Starks - John Burroughs - Sophomore - Macalester College - Division III
Victoria Hamilton (Paris) led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in field goal shooting percentage while Kristin Herndon (North Nodaway) was first in the Midwest Conference. Karenna Gerber (Halstead) had the highest shooting percentage from the floor in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Here are those with the most field goals and the highest shooting percentage:
Field Goals-Season
223 - Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern State - Division II
220 - Tre’Zure Jobe - Wichita South - Junior RS - Emporia State - Division II
206 - Britney Ho - Bishop Carroll - Senior - Newman University - Division II
199 - Brooke Littrell - Green City - Sophomore RS - Central Missouri - Division II
194 - Peyton Starks - John Burroughs - Sophomore - Macalester College - Division III
Field Goal Percentage-Minimum of 150 Attempts
62.81 - Victoria Hamilton - Paris - Junior - Southwest Baptist - Division II
57.94 - Kristin Herndon - North Nodaway - Senior - Knox College - Division III
57.67 - Mia Henderson - Benton - Senior - Drury University - Division II
57.59 - Karenna Gerber - Halstead - Sophomore - Pittsburg State - Division II
56.95 - Evan Zars - Mill Valley - Graduate Student - Grand Canyon Univ. - Division I
And of course, you get a one point bonus if your field goal is at least 22’ 1.75” away from the rim.
Taylor Robertson (McPherson) made the most treys in the Big 12 Conference, while Tristan Gegg (Labette County) made the most in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Jade Moore (Whitfield) drained the most treys in the ASUN Conference. When it comes to three point shooting accuracy, look to Brionna Budgets (Lincoln Prep). She had the highest trey percentage in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association and was tenth in the nation in Division II.
Three Point Field Goals-Season
91 - Taylor Robertson - McPherson - Fifth Year - Oklahoma - Division I
88 - Tristan Gegg - Labette County - Graduate Student - Pittsburg State - Division II
84 - Jade Moore - Whitfield School - Junior - North Alabama - Division I
76 - Brionna Budgetts - Lincoln Prep - Junior - Missouri Western - Division II
75 - Hayley Frank - Strafford - Senior - Univ. of Missouri - Division I
Of course one doesn’t have to make as many three point shots as two point shots to score the same number of points. The math says that you only have to make two thirds as many threes as you do from inside the arc to break even on the risk reward tradeoff. As a whole, the entire group of 390 WBB players from Missouri and Kansas shot 46.06 from two point range and 30.80 from three point range. To have broken even, they would have needed to shoot 30.86. That is very close to dead even. But look how far ahead our most accurate shooters are versus the field.
Three Point Field Goal Percentage-Minimum of 75 Attempts
43.54 - Taylor Robertson - McPherson - Fifth Year - Oklahoma - Division I
43.43 - Brionna Budgetts - Lincoln Prep - Junior - Missouri Western - Division II
43.33 - Carissa Beck - Circle High - Senior - Newman University - Division II
40.98 - Hayley Frank - Strafford - Senior - Univ. of Missouri - Division I
40.54 - Re’Shawna Stone - Waynesville - Graduate Student - Univ. of Buffalo - Division I
I had a coach who would say free throws are free, accept them as such. OK, maybe at the cost of a bruise or floor burn, but they are basically free. These ladies understand that.
Free Throws Made-Season
165 - Serena Sundell - Maryville - Sophomore - Kansas State - Division I
153 - Antoinette Mussorici - St. Pius-KC - Senior - Maryville Univ.-St.L. - Division II
140 - Brooke Littrell - Green City - Sophomore RS - Central Missouri - Division II
140- Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern - Division II
137 - Alecia Westbrook - Park Hill - Senior - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Division I
When a select few go to the line, you just know it is going to go in. It is the result of hours and hours and hours of concentrated work. These ladies know what it took to produce these results.
Aerihna Afoa (Wichita South) led the Central Intercollegiate Conference in free throw percentage, while Molly Harnett (St. Thomas Aquinas) led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Kierra Prim (Shawnee Mission West) was the top free thrower in the ASUN Conference.
Free Throw Percentage-Minimum of 75 Attempts
92.86 - Emily Ryan - Junior - Central Plains - Iowa State - Division I
91.14 - Aerihna Afoa - Wichita South - Junior RS - Bluefield State University - Division II
90.74 - Molly Hartnett - St. Thomas Aquinas - Sophomore - Northwest Missouri State - Division II
89.16 - Olivia Nelson - Liberty - Sophomore RS - Central Missouri - Division II
87.50 - Kierra Prim - Shawnee Mission West - Junior - Central Arkansas - Division I
The point of basketball is to score more points than your opponent.
Lacy Stokes (Mount Vernon) led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in points scored while Tre’Zure Jobe (Wichita South) led in points per game. Annette Ramirez (Sarcoxie) led the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in both points and points per game, as did Peyton Starks (John Burroughs) in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Here are the heavy hitters when it comes to scoring points.
Points-Season
623 - Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern - Division II
581 - Tre’Zure Jobe - Wichita South - Junior RS - Emporia State - Division II
565 - Brooke Littrell - Green City - Sophomore RS - Central Missouri - Division II
555 - Annette Ramirez - Sarcoxie - Sophomore - Westminster College - Division III
541 - Kaylee DaMitz-Holt - Skyline MO - Graduate - Drury University - Division II
Points per Game
Of the ladies from Missouri and Kansas playing basketball in the NCAA, thirty-one of them led their team in points per game. Here are the top five. Please note that the top four are all underclassmen.
22.3 - Tre’Zure Jobe - Wichita South - Junior RS - Emporia State - Division II
19.8 - Annette Ramirez - Sarcoxie - Sophomore - Westminster College - Division II
18.8 - Peyton Starks - John Burroughs - Sophomore - Macalester - Division III
18.8 - Brooke Littrell - Green City - Sophomore RS - Central Missouri - Division II
17.8 - Britney Ho - Bishop Carroll - Senior - Newman University - Division II
Alecia Westbrook (Park Hill) led the Southland Conference in both total rebounds and rebounds per game, as did Alex Kerr (St. Joseph’s Academy) in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Madison Stokes (Cassville) led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in total rebounds.
We have seen how a lot of balls go in the basket. But they all don’t go in. That is why someone has to do the hard work of getting rebounds. These are those ladies.
Rebounds-Season
327 - Brooke Flowers - Metro Academic and Classical - Senior - St. Louis University - Division I
315 - Alecia Westbrook - Park Hill - Senior - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Division I
302 - Madison Stokes - Cassville - Junior RS - Missouri Southern - Division II
282 - Alex Kerr - St. Joseph’s Academy - Graduate Student - Missouri S & T - Division II
272 - Kennedy Taylor - Shawnee Mission Northwest - Sophomore - Missouri State - Division I
Rebounds per Game-Minimum of 150 Rebounds
10.2 - Alecia Westbrook - Park Hill - Senior - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Division I
9.7 - Alex Kerr - St. Joseph’s Academy - Graduate Student - Missouri S & T - Division II
9.3 - Brooke Flowers - Metro Academic and Classical - Senior - St. Louis University - Division I
9.2 - Claudia Cooke - Parkway Central - Junior - Kenyon College - Division III
8.9 - Brooke Littrell - Green City - Sophomore RS - Central Missouri - Division II
Lacy Stokes (Mount Vernon) led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in assists and assists per game as did Gracie Stugart (Francis Howell Central) in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Emily Ryan was second in the Big 12 Conference in assists per game, which was ninth in the nation.
There are two ways to score from the floor. One way is to just take the ball and go score. The other way is to get in position for a less difficult shot and have a teammate get you the ball at just the right time and in the manner. You see where I’m going with this. Here are the ladies who work hard to selflessly create opportunities for their teammates to score.
Assists-Season
204 - Emily Ryan - Central Plains - Junior - Iowa State - Division I
186 - Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern - Division II
184 - Serena Sundell - Maryville - Sophomore - Kansas State - Division I
151 - Gracie Stugart - Francis Howell Central - Sophomore - Truman State - Division II
127 - Harper Schreiner - Eudora - Freshman - Pittsburg State - Division II
Assists per Game-Minimum of 100 Assists
6.38 - Emily Ryan - Central Plains - Junior - Iowa State - Division I
5.20 - Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern - Division II
5.11 - Serena Sundell - Maryville - Sophomore - Kansas State - Division I
5.00 - Gracie Stugart - Francis Howell Central - Sophomore - Truman State - Division II
4.10 - Harper Schreiner - Eudora - Freshman - Pittsburg State - Division II
Not all passes get to their intended destination, regardless of the intent and effort. Some go out of bounds for the opponent to inbounds and some go directly to the opponent which starts a break in the wrong direction.
Gracie Stugart (Francis Howell Central) led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the assist to turnover ratio, and was fourth in the nation. Lacy Stokes led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Here are the ladies who indirectly keep their opponent from scoring by not turning the ball over while they are assisting their teammates to score.
Assist to Turnover Ratio-Minimum of 100 Assists
3.68 - Gracie Stugart - Francis Howell Central - Sophomore - Truman State - Division II
3.32 - Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern - Division II
2.10 - Johnni Gonzalez - Bishop Miege - Junior - Missouri Western - Division II
1.89 - Emily Ryan - Central Plains - Junior - Iowa State - Division I
1.81 - Harper Schreiner - Eudora - Freshman - Pittsburg State - Division II
When you gain a steal you simultaneously increase your possessions by one and end your opponent’s possession. Steals and turnovers. Coaches will tell you they determine many game results.
Barstow is well represented with two ladies on the following two lists. Jaelyn Glenn (Barstow) led the Big 12 Conference in steals per game while Kiyley Flowers (Barstow) led the Ohio Valley Conference and was tenth in the nation. Do those two constitute stealing under the darkness of Knight? Alana Findley (Fair Grove) led the Great Lakes Valley in steals per game. Tre’Zure Jobe (Wichita South) led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in steals per game and was sixth in the nation, while Lacy Stokes (Mount Vernon) was third in that conference. Sameera Elmasri (Mill Valley) led the Southern Athletic Association in steals per game. Ariana Williams (Gateway Legacy Christian Academy) led the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in steals per game while Shelby Kurtz (Camdenton) was second.
It should be noted that of the ten rankings below, nine are filled with underclassmen. Dominance on defense should continue into next year. Perhaps we will see some career records fall.
Steals-Season
91 - Jaelyn Glenn - Barstow - Sophomore - Kansas State - Division I
88 - Alana Findley - Fair Grove - Senior - Drury University - Division II
88 - Lacy Stokes - Mount Vernon - Sophomore - Missouri Southern - Division II
87 - Kiyley Flowers - Barstow - Sophomore - Southeast Missouri State - Division I
83 - Tre’Zure Jobe - Wichita South - Junior RS - Emporia State - Division II
Steals per Game-Minimum of 75 Steals
3.19 - Tre’Zure Jobe - Wichita South - Junior RS - Emporia State - Division II
3.11 - Kiyley Flowers - Barstow - Sophomore - Southeast Missouri State - Division I
3.00 - Sameera Elmasri - Mill Valley - Sophomore - Birmingham-Southern College - Division III
2.75 - Ariana Williams - Gateway Legacy Christian Academy - Freshman - Principia College - Division III
2.71 - Shelby Kurtz - Camdenton - Junior - Westminster College - Division III
Anyone who has blocked a shot, or had one blocked, knows there is emotion involved with both players. There is a varying amount of adrenalin that pumps when you block a shot. And there is frustration and intimidation that comes into play when your attempt might not even get out of your hands. Those are immediate shifts in emotion. And emotion greatly affects the game.
Brooke Flowers (Metro Academic & Classical) led all Division I women with 130 blocks, finishing with 15 more than Stanford’s Cameron Brink. She also led the nation in blocks per game. Natalie Bruns (New York University) was No. 1 in blocks per game in the University Athletic Association and No. 8 in the country. Kristin Herndon (North Nodaway) led the Midwest Conference in blocks per game while Victoria Hamilton (Paris) was first in the Great Lakes Valley Conference
Blocks-Season
133 - Brooke Flowers - Metro Academic & Classical - Senior - St. Louis University - Division I
80 - Natalie Bruns - Kirkwood - Junior - New York University - Division III
61 - Kristin Herndon - North Nodaway - Senior - Knox College - Division III
53 - Karenna Gerber - Halstead - Sophomore - Pittsburg State - Division II
48 - Elise Backes - Salina Central - Fifth Year - Univ of Nebraska-Kearney - Division II
Blocks per Game-Minimum of 40 Blocks
3.80 - Brooke Flowers - Metro Academic & Classical - Senior - St. Louis University - Division I
2.86 - Natalie Bruns - Kirkwood - Junior - New York University - Division III
2.18 - Kristin Herndon - North Nodaway - Senior - Knox College - Division III
1.71 - Karenna Gerber - Halstead - Sophomore - Pittsburg State - Division II
1.68 - Victoria Hamilton - Paris - Junior - Southwest Baptist - Division II
Here is the combined spreadsheet with all the numbers for all 390 ladies, ranked by points per game.
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