CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) recognized Hanover College women's basketball student-athlete
Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) as the 2024-25 HCAC Athlete of the Year for women's sports on Tuesday, following a vote of league officials.
The senior forward from Covington, Kentucky recorded a Hanover school record with 623 points in a season. Bezold was also second in career points at Hanover with 1,631 and eighth in career rebounds with 677. Bezold earned multiple HCAC Athlete of the Week honors throughout the 2024-25 season, garnering this distinction in weeks 2, 3, 5, 13, and 15 of the season. She was also named as a D3Hoops Team of the Week member on Jan. 5th and the USBWA DIII Women's National Player of the Week honors on Feb. 18.
In addition to her conference and school accolades, Bezold found her name in numerous national statistics. Bezold averaged a season high of 23.1 points per game during the season, which ranked 8th nationally throughout Division III. She was ranked 7th nationally in total points scored and field goals attempted. Grace was ranked 5th in field goals made; 17th in attempted free throws; and 19th in made free throws. The senior was also ranked 32nd in total double-doubles.
Bezold was a WBCA All-American Honorable mention and D3Hoops Third Team All-American for the 2024-25 season. She was named as a Region 8 First Team selection and CSC Academic All-District. To end her Panther career, Bezold was also a WBCA All-Star participant as well as a Top 10 Finalist for the
prestigious Josten's Trophy.
The HCAC Athlete of the Year award is in its twelfth year of existence. The award is voted on by the Sports Information Directors of each member institution.
HCAC Female Athlete of the Year
| Year |
Name |
Sport(s) |
Institution |
| 2025 |
Grace Bezold |
Basketball |
Hanover College |
| 2024 |
Dasia Thornton |
Basketball |
Transylvania University |
| 2023 |
Madison Kellione |
Basketball |
Transylvania University |
| 2022 |
Madison Kellione |
Basketball |
Transylvania University |
| 2021 |
Alehia Tucker |
Softball |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| 2020 |
Brynna Sentel |
Swimming & Diving |
Franklin College |
| 2019 |
Aishat Sadiq |
Track & Field |
Earlham College |
| 2018 |
Renae Morton |
Softball |
Transylvania University |
| 2017 |
Jordin Fender |
Track & Field |
Transylvania University |
| 2016 |
Terrill Webb |
Track & Field |
Bluffton University |
| 2015 |
Anna Murdock |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
Franklin College |
| 2014 |
Bridgette Rowe |
Soccer, Track & Field |
Manchester University |
For more information on all things HCAC, 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 X and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.