NIACC's Martinez-Stewart is league's defensive player of year
MASON CITY – NIACC's Audrey Martinez-Stewart was selected as the NJCAA Region XI women's basketball defensive player of the year.
Martinez-Stewart, a 5-foot-5 inch guard from St. Paul, Minn., was also a first-team all-region selection.
NIACC's Kourtney Manning and Jackie Pippett were second-team all-region selections and Kameron Jones was a third-team all-region selection.
Martinez-Stewart is the first NIACC women's player to earn regional defensive player of the year honors since post player Sierra Morrow won the award in the 2019-20 season.
Martinez-Stewart led the ICCAC with 104 steals, which ranks ninth in NJCAA Division II. The 104 steals is tied for 11th on NIACC's all-time single-season steals list.
Martinez-Stewart, who averaged 10.4 points per game, also led the ICCAC with 158 assists, which is tied for eighth in NJCAA Division II. The 158 assists ranks sixth on the school's all-time single-season assist list.
Martinez-Stewart, who was a third-team all-region selection as a freshman, finished her two-year NIACC career with 271 assists (3rd on school's career list) and 189 steals (3rd on school's career list).
Manning, a 6-0 sophomore forward from Hibbing, Minn., was a first-team all-region selection in 2021.
In the 2022-23 season, Manning averaged 10.8 points per game with 202 rebounds (tied for second in the ICCAC) and 69 steals (fourth in the ICCAC).
Pippett, a 6-0 sophomore post from Ankeny, averaged 10.2 points per game with 76 steals (second in the ICCAC) and 170 rebounds (tied for 5th in the ICCAC).
Jones, a 5-7 guard from Matteson, Ill., averaged 12.5 points per game, which ranked 10th in the ICCAC. She also collected 67 steals (5th in ICCAC) with 136 rebounds and 60 assists.
Kirkwood's Tasia Jordan was the NJCAA Region XI player of the year and Eagles' coach Kim Muhl was the regional coach of the year.
Kirkwood's Demetria Prewitt was the regional newcomer of the year.
All-NJCAA Region XI first-team – Jaden Ainley (DMACC), Fr., guard; Brielle Bartelt (Iowa Lakes), Soph., guard; Aleshia Jones (Iowa Western), Fr., guard; Ndidiamaka Ndukwe (Iowa Western), Fr., guard; Naya Haymon (Kirkwood), Soph., guard; Tasia Jordan (Kirkwood), Soph., guard; Jada Devine (Kirkwood), Fr., forward; Demtetria Prewitt (Kirkwood), Soph., forward; Audrey Martinez-Stewart (NIACC), Soph., guard; Allison Richards (Northeast CC), Soph., guard.
All-NJCAA Region XI second-team – Rebekah Fuller (DMACC), Soph., forward; Kaitlyn Tendal (Iowa Central), Fr., guard; Ihari Oromo (Iowa Lakes), Soph., center; Hannah Burg (Iowa Western), Soph., guard; Courtney Fields (Iowa Western), Soph., guard; Karsyn Stratton (Kirkwood), Soph., guard; Alycia Patterson (Kirkwood), Soph., guard; Kourtney Manning (NIACC), Soph., forward; Jackie Pippett (NIACC), Soph., center; Analyssa Maldonado (Northeast CC), Fr., guard.
All-NJCAA Region XI third team – Reanna Hutchinson (DMACC), Fr., guard; Ashjahnelle Wilson (Ellsworth, Soph., G/F; Aleaha Pommer (Iowa Central), Fr., guard; Makayla Holton (Iowa Lakes), Fr., guard; Caela Tighe (Iowa Western), Fr., G/F; E'laiyha Heard (Iowa Western), Soph., F; Emily Dreckman (Kirkwood), Soph., guard; Makayla Mau (Kirkwood), Soph., center; Kameron Jones (NIACC), Fr., guard; Stevi Falllis (Northeast CC), Fr., guard.
NJCAA Region XI player of the year – Tasia Jordan (Kirkwood); NJCAA Region XI coach of the year – Kim Muhl (Kirkwood); NJCAA Region XI newcomer of the year – Demetria Prewitt (Kirkwood); NJCAA Region XI defensive player of the year – Audrey Martinez-Stewart (NIACC).
