MSU-N’s Johnston honored

(Created: Thursday, March 22, 2007)

George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com

For the second straight season, and the ninth time in school history, a Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball player has achieved NAIA All-American status. MSU-N’s DeLayne Johnston, a 6-0 senior from Richey, was named to the NAIA’s All-American Third Team. Last year, MSU-N guard Jaci Heny also earned All-American honors. Johnston finished in the top five in the Frontier Conference in scoring and rebounding this season. She led the Skylights with 16 points and eight rebounds per game, and she recorded 13 double-doubles during the season. Johnston was a two-year starter for the Skylights, and during her career at MSU-N, she earned Frontier Conference First-Team honors twice under head coach Chris Mouat. The Frontier had one player earn first-team honors in UM-Western center Kathrine Sunwall. The 6-1 senior from Great Falls led the nation in blocked shots this year, and she averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs. Carroll College’s Amy Brooks and Lewis-Clark State’s Ashley Baker earned second-team honors. Brooks had a breakout season for the Saints, and Baker earned All-American honors for the second straight season. Baker helped guide LC State to the Frontier’s regular season title, while Brooks led the Saints to the Frontier Conference tournament title and the league’s automatic bid to last week’s NAIA national tournament. Four Frontier players also earned Honorable Mention All-American honors, including former Havre High and Malta star Jolene Fuzesy. Fuzesy, a 5-11 guard from Carroll was among the NAIA leaders in 3- point shooting, and she finished second in the Frontier in scoring in her sophomore season. Montana Tech newcomer Rebecca Gimeno was also named honorable mention, as was LC State’s Aundrea Morrison and Western’s Beck O’Neil. Jessica Richter, a 5-10 guard from Vanguard University (Calif.) Was named the NAIA’s Player of the Year.