Prestegaard earns second consecutive All-WIAC selection
The Pioneers’ Allison Prestegaard has been named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) All-Defensive Team and received Honorable Mention as release by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.
The Pioneers' Allison Prestegaard has been named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) All-Defensive Team and received Honorable Mention as release by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.
The Amboy, Illinois native recorded 3.14 blocks per game and 6.5 rebounds per game this season. Her 3.14 blocks per game ranked eighth nationally and was more than double any other player in the WIAC. Prestegaard's 7.7 rebounds per game in conference play ranked third in the WIAC.
"Allison's ability to change the game, especially on the defensive end of the floor is remarkable," said head women's basketball coach Megan Wilson. "I am so proud of her for being the first and second WIAC All-Defensive Team selections in our program's history."
On January 3rd in a home game against UW-Stout, Prestegaard recorded the program's second ever triple-double when she grabbed 13 rebounds and set career highs with 27 points and 10 blocks. The performance was one of only two triple-doubles in the nation this season.
The junior also led the Pioneers in scoring at 9.9 points per game, including 10.8 in WIAC play. Her rebound and scoring averages are both career highs. This is Prestegaard's second appearance on the All-WIAC team. She received that same two recognitions of All-Defensive Team and Honorable Mention last season.
"Her ceiling is still so high, and I am looking forward to see what her hard work over the next seven months will bring to the court for her senior year," said Wilson.
Joining Prestegaard as an All-Conference selection is senior Sydnei Smith, who was selected as an All-Sportsmanship member. Smith appeared in 51 games for the Pioneers with 16 starts over her four year career.
"Syd represented Pioneer women's basketball and the Division III philosophy more than anyone else on our team," said Wilson. "She was one of our most vocal leaders, her work ethic in practice never went unnoticed, and her ability to put her team and teammates first was truly admirable. I know her career didn't end the way any of us would have hoped, but her resilience to adversity is something that many look up to her for."
Smith tore her ACL in a practice near the beginning of January, and was forced to watch from the sidelines the remainder of the season.