Lady Royals Being Recognized By The AAC

Posted: Feb 28, 2024

KINGSPORT, TN - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced this year's conference awards on Tuesday night. The turn around play of the Johnson University Women's Basketball team this season resulted in seven different players earning All-Conference awards. The AAC gave out five key individual honors this year; Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. Hannah Jones (Fr, Cleveland,TN) claimed the prestigious Freshman of the Year honor as well as AAC All-Freshman Team and AAC All-Conference First Team. Jordan Heifner (Jr, Knoxville, TN) was named to the AAC All-Defensive Team and was also selected to the AAC All-Conference First Team. Emily Wilson (FR, Knoxville,TN) and Bekah Gardner (Fr, Maryville, TN) also earned spots on the AAC All-Freshman Team. Kyra Buntyn (Jr, Knoxville, TN) was named to the Champions of Character Team and AAC All-Academic Team. Joining Buntyn on the AAC All-Academic Team were Taylor Carter (Sr, Knoxville,TN), Taylor Pruitt (Jr, Mt. Juliet,TN) and Heifner.

Hannah Jones earned AAC Freshman of the Year, AAC All-Freshman Team and AAC All-Conference First Team honors in her debut season as a Lady Royal. She is the first player in program history to be named AAC Freshman of the Year. The Cleveland, TN product was the only player in the conference in the Top 10 statistically in points per game (9th), rebounds per game (10th) and blocks per game (8th). Her 487 points was 5^th in the league and her shooting 50% from the field is ranked 8th in the conference. Jones led all Freshmen in points per game, total points scored, was 3^rd in rebounds per game and 3^rd in blocked shots per game.

Jordan Heifner was named the AAC All-Defensive Team and secured her 1^st AAC All-Conference First Team selection. She is the 1^st Lady Royal to garner those honors and with Jones are the 1^st Lady Royal players to receive the AAC 1^st Team honors. The Knoxville, TN native was 2^nd in the conference with 4.5 assists per game and ranked 4th with 2.4 steals per game. She was also 10th in the conference with a 429 points scored and 16^th in the conference with an average of 15.3 points per game.

Emily Wilson earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team, making this the 2^nd straight season a Lady Royal has received the honor. The Knoxville, TN product averaged 10.5 points per game and reached double-figures in 14 games this season. Her 60 made three point field goals were good for 7th in the AAC. She also tied for 16th in the league with a 37.3 three-point field goal percentage. Finally, she shot 83.9% from the free-three line.

Bekah Gardner showed that she is lethal from deep and joined her teammate on the All-Freshman Team, a 1^st for the Lady Royal basketball program. The Maryville, TN native drained shots from three point land all season and finished with 56 three-pointers made at 37.3%, tied for 16^th in the league for 3 point field goal percentage. She also averaged 10.2 points her game in her freshman campaign and averaged 85.7% from the free-throw line.