KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team wrapped up its season on Saturday, but today the team started pulling in individual awards as senior captains Danielle Simon and Emily Kozal have both been named to the All-MIAA Second Team.
Simon, a point guard from Portland, was Kalamazoo's jack-of-all-trades this season. She led the MIAA as a whole in assists, finished second in steals, and fourth in rebounding and was the only player to finish in the top four of each of those categories. She led her team in minutes played, assists, steals, and rebounding and was second in points per game this year. Simon handed out 116 assists this season which ties her for most in one season in program history.
Simon was the only player in the MIAA this year to record a triple double after her 16 point, 10 rebound, 10 assist performance against Adrian in January. She also set new career highs this season in points scored with 21 against Olivet and in rebounds after pulling down 14 rebounds against Alma.
Simon finishes her outstanding career in the Kalamazoo record book for a number of accomplishments. Her 297 career assists is second best in program history. Her 101 career games played is the fifth most in school history. With 530 rebounds, she finishes eighth on the career list.
This is Simon's first appearance on an All-MIAA team.
Kozal, a shooting guard from Ada, was the driving force behind K's offense. She finished second in the MIAA in scoring after averaging 15.6 points per game. She led the team in scoring, free throws and three pointers per game, and free throw percentage and was second in minutes played and three point percentage. She set new career highs in points, scoring 30 against Adrian, assists, and steals this season.
Kozal also climbed a number of lists in the Kalamazoo record book during her career. After scoring her 1,000th point this season, the 2015-16 MIAA scoring champion finished her career with 1,156 points which is good for sixth on the all-time scoring list. Her 99 career games puts her inside the top ten in career games played and her 143 career made three pointers is good for third in program history.
This is Kozal's second appearance on the All-MIAA Second team to go along with two career MIAA Player of the Week recognitions.
Coach Katie Miller said, "I am so proud of Dani and Kozal for being named All-MIAA. I'm grateful they are receiving this recognition for all of their hard work and the unbelievable seasons they both just completed. They have both left a legacy with their accomplishments and the way they carried themselves. They are both amazing leaders and people and they have done so much for our program. We will miss them tremendously next year."
The women's basketball team finished the season 9-16 overall and 6-10 in MIAA play.