CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the members of the 2025 Women's Basketball All Conference teams as well as the other special awards following the regular season.
Headlining the awards is the 2025 HCAC Player of the Year,
Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) from Hanover College. Grace currently leads the conference in scoring (22.1 PPG) and rebounding (9.4 RPG). She currently is second in the league in field goal percentage at .468. The senior forward has gained national recognition this year as well, ranking 12th in scoring in all of NCAA Division III.
Transylvania University Pioneer
Sierra Kemelgor (Crestwood, Ky.) was named the 2025 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year, following a vote among league coaches. Her leadership on the defensive end helped leads the Pioneers to their conference regular season title for the fourth year in a row. The junior guard currently leads the Pioneers in steals with 53 total on the year and ranks third in all HCAC. Her defensive abilty has helped lead the Pioneers to have the best scoring defense in HCAC play at 50 PPG allowed and 53.9 PPG allowed overall, which is 49th in all NCAA Division III.
The HCAC also recognizes a Newcomer of the Year, a student athlete in their first year of athletic competition.
Erica Buening (Franklin, Ind.) from Franklin College was voted as the 2025 HCAC Newcomer of the Year. The first year starter averaged 10 points a game, amassing 261 points on the season.
Leading Transylvania University to the regular season title in her first year at the helm,
Hannah Varel was named the 2025 HCAC Coach of the Year in a vote of the league coaches.
Player of the Year – Grace Bezold, Hanover College
Defensive Player of the Year – Sierra Kemelgor, Transylvania University
Newcomer of the Year – Erica Buening, Franklin College
Coach of the Year – Hannah Varel, Transylvania University
The HCAC also honors an All-Conference First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention Team. The women’s coaches also recognize a Newcomer Team. The members of those teams are selected by a vote of league coaches and can be found below.
2025 All Conference First Team (6)
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Jamie Baum |
SR |
Guard |
Rose-Hulman |
| Grace Bezold |
SR |
Forward |
Hanover |
| Izzy Davis |
JR |
Guard |
Anderson |
| LynKaylah James |
JR |
Forward |
Berea |
| Abigail Rosenkrans |
JR |
Guard/Forward |
Manchester |
| Sadie Wurth |
SR |
Point Guard |
Transylvania |
2025 All Conference Second Team (6)
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Sammy Berman |
SO |
Guard |
Hanover |
| Jordan Coon |
JR |
Guard |
Franklin |
| Madison Drummonds |
SR |
Forward |
Mount St. Joseph |
| Sierra Kemelgor |
JR |
Guard |
Transylvania |
| Karlee Mills |
SR |
Guard |
Mount St. Joseph |
| Anyiah Murphy |
SR |
Guard |
Mount St. Joseph |
2025 All Conference Honorable Mention (8)
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Katherine Benter |
SR |
Guard/Forward |
Hanover |
| Jay Bright |
SR |
Guard |
Earlham |
| Madison Brown |
JR |
Guard |
Bluffton |
| Taylor Cooney |
SR |
Guard |
Franklin |
| Victoria Detraz |
SO |
Center |
Anderson |
| Riley Flinn |
SO |
Guard |
Transylvania |
| Morgan Jenkins |
JR |
Guard |
Mount St. Joseph |
| Drea Satori |
SR |
Point Guard |
Berea |
2025 HCAC Newcomer Team
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Jalynn Brooks |
FY |
Point Guard |
Hanover |
| Erica Buening |
FY |
Forward |
Franklin |
| Hannah Holmes |
FY |
Center |
Manchester |
| Chloe McKnight |
FY |
Center |
Transylvania |
| Emma Schipp |
FY |
Power Forward |
Rose-Hulman |
| Paige Williamson |
FY |
Guard |
Anderson |
For more information on HCAC Women's Basketball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.