CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the members of the 2026 Women's Basketball All Conference teams as well as the other special awards following the regular season.
Berea’s LynKaylah James (Bowling Green, Ky.) was a dominant force in the HCAC this year, leading the league in scoring (18.4 ppg), rebounding (12.8 rpg), field goal percentage (55.2 percent), and double-doubles (21). Her numbers were also good enough to rank her among the best of NCAA Division III. She finished the regular season ninth in total rebounds, 12th in rebounds per game, and 16th in field goal percentage. Her double-double total is second in the nation. In fact, there were only four instances all year when she did not record one. James also ranks in the top-10 in the HCAC in blocked shots. She was named HCAC Player of the Week twice (Weeks 3, 8).
Meanwhile, Morgan Jenkins (Erlanger, Ky.) from Mount St. Joseph earned the top defensive honor as Defensive Player of the Year. Jenkins anchored an MSJ unit that allowed just 58.7 points per game, which ranked second in the conference. She was a versatile defender who was often tasked with denying her opponents’ most productive scorer. She came away with at least five steals on seven different occasions and also registered 22 blocks on the year.
Hanover freshman Emerson Vlcan (Greenwood, Ind.) was named 2026 Newcomer of the Year. Vlcan really made her presence felt on the defensive end of the floor as she finished second in the league blocked shots with 46. Her shot-blocking numbers also placed her in the top-50 nationally. In addition to her defensive prowess, she also averaged 7.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
First-year head coach Ashley Blanch announced her presence in the league this year, leading Franklin to a 14-4 HCAC (20-6 overall) record to claim the No. 2 seed in the HCAC Championship Tournament. Picked sixth in the 2025-26 HCAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Blanch’s teams exceeded expectations with a five-game improvement from 2024-25. Blanch’s squad had the league’s most prolific offense at 74.1 points per game, which ranked in the top-25 in all of NCAA Division III.
Player of the Year: Lynkaylah James, Berea
Defensive Player of the Year: Morgan Jenkins, Mount St. Joseph
Coach of the Year: Ashley Blanch, Franklin
Newcomer of the Year: Emerson Vlcan, Hanover
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.
2026 All-Conference First Team
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Jordan Coon |
SR |
Guard |
Franklin |
| Riley Flinn |
JR |
Guard |
Transylvania |
| LynKaylah James |
SR |
Forward/Center |
Berea |
| Sierra Kemelgor |
SR |
Guard |
Transylvania |
| Bella Larrison |
SR |
Guard |
Anderson |
| Karlee Mills |
SR |
Guard |
Mount St. Joseph |
2026 All-Conference Second Team
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Madison Brown |
SR |
Guard |
Bluffton |
| Katelyn Fennell |
SO |
Guard |
Rose-Hulman |
| Morgan Jenkins |
SR |
Guard |
Mount St. Joseph |
| Abigail Rosekrans |
SR |
Forward |
Manchester |
| Sydney Sierota |
SR |
Point Guard |
Anderson |
| Alexis Wines |
SR |
Guard |
Hanover |
2026 All-Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Izzy Davis |
SR |
Guard |
Anderson |
| Makya Grinter |
SR |
Point Guard |
Transylvania |
| Madison Howell |
SR |
Forward |
Berea |
| Kaitlyn Lorenzi |
SR |
Forward |
Hanover |
| Sam Price |
FY |
Center |
Mount St. Joseph |
| Emma Schipp |
SO |
Power Forward |
Rose-Hulman |
| Payton Seay |
JR |
Forward |
Franklin |
| Berkley Shelton |
JR |
Center |
Earlham |
| Amari Wright |
SR |
Guard |
Earlham |
2026 All-Newcomer Team
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Hannah Glisson |
FY |
Point Guard |
Transylvania |
| Karlie Kiekamp |
FY |
Forward |
Bluffton |
| Ashley Pate |
FY |
Guard |
Anderson |
| Kaia Peterson |
FY |
Guard |
Rose-Hulman |
| Sam Price |
FY |
Center |
Mount St. Joseph |
| Emerson Vlcan |
FY |
Center |
Hanover |
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.