College of the Ozarks (Missouri) senior Kayley Frank and Head Coach Becky Mullis headline the Continental Athletic Conference women’s basketball all-conference selections for the 2023-24 season.
Frank garnered the Player of the Year award, while Mullis received Coach of the Year honors after helping guide the Bobcats to a CAC tournament championship.
Northern New Mexico junior Miranda Salazar earned the Defensive Player of the Year award and Florida National University sophomore Jullie Ruiz Paneto was named Newcomer of the Year.
Frank led College of the Ozarks by averaging 18.5 points per game after making 197 field goals in 31 games this winter. She also averaged 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest, while adding 44 steals.
Salazar recorded 72 steals and grabbed 5.7 rebounds in 23 games for the Eagles this season. She averaged 10 points per outing and made 70 of 87 free throw attempts (80.5%).
Ruiz Paneto averaged 22.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.1 steals per outing for the Conquistadors. She recorded 71 steals and shot 50% from the floor while starting 13 games.
Mullis led the Bobcats to a 25-6 record that featured a 10-1 mark against CAC opponents. The team won the semifinal and championship games of postseason play by an average of 15.5 points per contest.
College of the Ozarks and Florida National are representing the CAC in the First & Second Round of the NAIA national tournament. The Bobcats are the No. 15 seed in the Duer Quadrant, playing No. 2 Clarke University (Iowa) in Dubuque, Iowa, on Friday, March 15. FNU is the No. 16 seed in the Naismith Quadrant and will play at No. 1 Marian University (Indiana) in Indianapolis on Friday.
2023-24 Continental Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Kayley Frank, College of the Ozarks
Defensive Player of the Year: Miranda Salazar, Northern New Mexico College
Newcomer Player of the Year: Jullie Ruiz Paneto, Florida National University
Coach of the Year: Becky Mullis, College of the Ozarks
First Team
Kayley Frank, College of the Ozarks
Logan Jones, College of the Ozarks
Susanna Moran, College of the Ozarks
Janelisse Marty Marrero, Florida National University
Jullie Ruiz Paneto, Florida National University
Ethena Silva, Northern New Mexico College
Second Team
Celebria Peacock, Arkansas Baptist College
Ansley Dawson, Crowley’s Ridge College
Kaylee Llanos, Florida National University
Mahpiya Irving, Haskell Indian Nations University
Miranda Salazar, Northern New Mexico College
Sarah Shamdeen, Washington Adventist University
Honorable Mention
Jessica Nerestant, Arkansas Baptist College
Travia Woodruff, Crowley’s Ridge College
Adalis Arroyo, Florida National University
Marilyn Goodman, Haskell Indian Nations University
Miracle Spotted Bear, Haskell Indian Nations University
Hallia Carl, Voorhees University
Kelly Luck, Washington Adventist University
Shelby Ricks, Washington Adventist University
Champions of Character
Ah’Jaia Kenner, Arkansas Baptist College
Kayley Frank, College of the Ozarks
Hunter Gibson, Crowley’s Ridge College
Jaycee Omeir, Florida National University
Siona Astorga, Haskell Indian Nations University
Maesyn Lopez, Northern New Mexico College
Keyanah Felder, Voorhees University
Deryanis Colon-Velez, Washington Adventist University
Bobcat guard Andrew Dalton received CAC Honorable Mention honors on the men’s side of the conference.
