BILLINGS, Mont. - As the NAIA National Championship is underway, postseason awards have started trickling out from the various voting bodies and Amber Alexander (SR/Paragould, AR) has found her name on two elite lists. First, she has been selected as CoSIDA Academic All-America® of the Year as well as WBCA All-American First Team.
To win Academic All-America® of the Year, Alexander was first selected as CoSIDA Academic All-Region before moving forward to the national level. At that point, she was selected as one of the top five players in the NAIA in terms of academic performance in the classroom and athletic achievement on the court. This award is determined by the CoSIDA members, comprised of Sports Information and Communication department personnel from around the nation. Alexander was recognized for the College Division which encompasses the NAIA, Canadian, and two-year institutions.
A senior studying education from Paragould, Arkansas, Alexander has compiled a 4.00 GPA in her graduate classes. She garnered a Golden State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete award.
Alexander collected first-team All-GSAC recognition during her second stint with the Lions. This season, she was selected as GSAC and NAIA Player of the Week twice behind stellar early-season performances. She led the team in scoring (14.4 points per game), rebounding (9.3) and blocked shots per game (1.08).
She had season highs with 38 points against University of Saint Katherine and 20 rebounds against Bethesda Christian University. In two seasons at Vanguard, Alexander has accrued 652 points, 458 rebounds, 73 steals and 41 blocks. This season, she was led the number seven ranked Lions in points, rebound, and blocks.
"I am so proud of Amber to be recognized as WBCA All-American and CoSIDA Academic Player of the Year," head coach Russ Davis cheerfully said. "She has had a great season and has fought through lots of injuries to help our team reach the NAIA National Championships."
Next, at the NAIA National Tournament Student-Athlete Celebration prior to the tournament, the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) selected its top six players in the country and Alexander was selected to that team, as voted on by the WBCA member coaches. Last season, Vanguard University was awarded its fourth WBCA Player of the Year, which is selected from the grouping of six student-athletes that Alexander reached this year. She marks the 12th All-American recipient in program history including selections each year since 2013-14.
According to the WBCA the criteria to receive the award is, "Current season game-by-game statistics and achievements, impact on the team, success of the team, sportsmanship and attitude, and finally academic eligibility."
-GOLD PRIDE-
