Five members of Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball program were recognized for their outstanding play this season by the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and the NJCAA Region IV. Headlining the Chiefs' honorees was sophomore Janiece Thomas who was named to both the ISCC First Team and All-Region First Team. Freshman Brooke Heiman joined Thomas on the All-Region First Team, while also being named to the All-ISCC Second team. Teammates Delani Kosner and Jaylynn Vana were selected All-ISCC Honorable Mention, with Chiefs' head coach Jim Williams chosen the ISCC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.
Thomas, a 6'0" forward, did a little bit of everything on the court for Waubonsee. The Metea Valley High School graduate averaged 16.7 points-per-game, 8.6 rebounds per contest, 4.9 assists and 2.9 steals a game. She reached double figures in points in 25 of the 28 games she played in, including scoring 20 or more points 10 times, and posted a dozen double-doubles in points and rebounds during the season. Thomas also shot 78.4 percent from the foul line, made a team-leading 51 three-pointers and blocked 49 shots on the season. She was selected the NJCAA Division II Player of the Week the first week of February, averaging a double-double over the course of three Waubonsee victories that week. Thomas also booked a season-high 30 points in a lopsided win over Illinois Valley Community College in mid-December, and posted a triple-double with 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 14 points in a big win over Madison (WI) College in mid-January.
An Indian Creek High School product, Heiman led Waubonsee in scoring with a 17.5 points-per-game average, registering 20 or more points 13 times during the season. The 5'10" forward also hauled down 9.2 rebounds per game, compiling 14 double-doubles on the season. The freshman also shot 79.7 percent from the foul line, making a team-leading 98 out of 123 foul shots. Additionally, Heiman connected on 34 shots from beyond the arc and shot 45.5 percent from the field overall.
The Chiefs' point guard, Kosner was tops among all NJCAA Division II players in total assists and assists per game. The 5'9" freshman handed out a Waubonsee single season record 247 assists to eclipse the mark of 241 set in 2015-16 by Coreisha Bailey. Kosner also led the nation averaging 8.5 assists per game, and set the Chiefs' single game mark when she dished out 20 assists in a record-setting win over Illinois Valley in mid-December. In addition, the Aurora Central Catholic High School alumnus averaged 10.2 points per contest, 3.9 steals and blocked a team-leading 58 shots.
Vana, 5'11" center averaged a double-double for the season. The Sandwich High School graduate tallied 11.2 points-per-game and grabbed 10.3 rebounds per contest over 29 games played. The southpaw corralled 300 total rebounds to tie for seventh nationally in that category. Vana's 201 boards on the defensive end of the floor placed her eighth nationally among all NJCAA Division II players. The freshman booked 13 double-doubles on the season, and snagged a season-high 20 rebounds in a win over Moraine Valley Community College in early January.
Williams, in his fifth year as head coach at Waubonsee, guided the Chiefs to a 23-6 overall record, finishing second in the ISCC. Waubonsee's only two conference losses were to eventual National Runner-Up Morton College, with two other losses also coming against nationally-ranked teams. Williams' squad finished in the top-25 nationally in 10 different categories, including leading the nation in assists with an average of 22.0 per game. The Chiefs also were sixth with a team free throw percentage of 71.5 percent, and were seventh among NJCAA Division II teams by forcing an average of 22.8 turnovers per contest. Waubonsee also ranked 11th in offensive rebounds (17.0), 12th in steals (13.7), blocks (4.4), total rebounds (47.5), and points (78.8) per game, and 13th in defensive rebounds (30.5).
Janiece Thomas Brooke Heiman Delani Kosner Jaylynn Vana Coach Jim Williams