FARMINGTON, Utah – Two Vandal women's basketball athletes have earned Big Sky Conference honors following the regular season. Kennedy Johnson was named to the First Team All-Conference while Amalie Langer earned a spot on the All-Big Sky Defensive Team.
Johnson became the seventh Vandal to earn the First-Team accolade since Idaho rejoined the Big Sky in the 2014-15 season. The junior transfer has made her mark on the conference in her first season at Idaho averaging 15.78 PPG in conference play, which ranks second overall. Johnson ranked top-five among the Big Sky, through the conference season, in field goal percentage (43.9% - 3rd), free throw percentage (89.7% - 1st), steals (32 – 5th), blocks (17 – 5th), and defensive rebounds (97 – 5th).
Johnson has amassed 410 points (13.67ppg) so far this season, a new career-high after scoring only 105 (3.5ppg) last season for UCSB. She leads the Vandals in total points, field goal attempts (358), field goals made (159), free throw attempts (76), free throws made (64), rebounds (203), steals (46), blocks (26), and is second in assists (49) and total minutes (888).
In the first year of the honor, Langer earned her spot on the Big Sky All-Defensive Team. Langer has been the go-to player this year to go toe-to-toe with the toughest individuals in the conference. Langer's stats do not adequately show the difficulty that she caused for Idaho's opponents.
Langer had the conference's second-best performance with five steals at Northern Arizona on 1/25/24. She also ranks No. 15 with 23 steals in conference play and No. 12 with 39 steals overall. On the Vandals, she ranks fourth in total points (214), third in free throw attempts (58), free throws made (45), steals (39), and minutes played (865).
2023-24 Big Sky Women's Basketball Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player – Jamie Loera, Eastern Washington*
Newcomer of the Year – Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, Montana
Defensive Player of the Year – Jamie Loera, Eastern Washington
Top Reserve – Gina Marxen, Montana
Freshman of the Year – Summah Hanson, Sacramento State
Coach of the Year – Joddie Gleason, Eastern Washington
* Unanimous Selections
First Team All-Conference
Jamie Loera, Eastern Washington*
Sophie Glancey, Northern Arizona*
Aaliyah Alexander, Eastern Washington
Kennedy Johnson, Idaho
Carmen Gfeller, Montana
Esmeralda Morales, Portland State
Delaynie Byrne, Northern Colorado
* Unanimous Members of the All-Big Sky First Team
Second Team All-Conference
Leia Beattie, Northern Arizona
Dani Bartsch, Montana
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Marah Dykstra, Montana State
Jaleesa Lawrence, Eastern Washington
Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, Montana
Hannah Simental, Northern Colorado
Note: Second Team features Seven Players due to tie for final spot
Honorable Mention All-Big Sky
Aniah Hall, Northern Colorado
Emily Rodabaugh, Northern Arizona
Daryn Hickok, Weber State
Jadyn Matthews, Weber State
Olivia Moran, Northern Arizona
All-Defensive Team
Amalie Langer, Idaho
Jamie Loera, Eastern Washington
Kacey Spink, Idaho State
Dani Bartsch, Montana
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Katelynn Limardo, Montana State
