All-Heartland Conference Release

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The 2022-23 edition of the Bluffton University women's basketball team saw two of its members earn All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference honors as voted on by the head coaches in the HCAC. For the second consecutive season, senior Morgan Smith (Arlington) earned First Team All-HCAC recognition. Sophomore Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) also netted her second straight post-season award. She was named Honorable Mention All-HCAC after securing All-Freshman Team honors in 2021-22.

Smith led the Heartland Conference in rebounds with 9.3 boards per game after pulling down 8.1 RPG as a junior. She is a three-time HCAC Player of the Week who led the Beavers in scoring this season. Her 13.4 PPG are 7th in the conference. Smith hit 131-of-286 from the field for 45.8 percent while also knocking down 60-for-77 (77.9 percent) at the stripe thanks to her countless hours in the gym. The talented post has a team-high 30 blocks, 47 assists and 17 steals while leading the Beavers with 698 minutes on the court despite missing a game after she had a tooth knocked out during the holiday tournament. Smith's 224 rebounds are tied for 3rd all-time on the single-season list.

Although Smith played just over two seasons, she still stands 41st all-time with 618 career points. Her .468 career field goal percentage is 12th all-time, while Smith's .747 free throw percentage is also tied for 12th on Bluffton's career chart. She has dominated on the glass, hauling in 419 caroms and her 7.6 rebounds per game are 3rd all-time. She is also top 10 all time with 46 blocks.

Prigge picked up where she left off after her freshman season. A starter in 43 of her 48 games at Bluffton, Prigge bucketed 8.4 PPG while hitting 30-of-97 (.309) from distance, including a dagger in the final minute of Bluffton's HCAC tournament win at Anderson on Tuesday night! She dished out 47 assists, blocked 16 shots and picked up 27 steals. Prigge also knocked down 32-of-45 (.711) at the charity stripe. A consistent scoring threat for Bluffton, Prigge has 411 career points and an 8.6 PPG scoring average. Her 69 makes from outside the arc are already tied for 13th all-time with two seasons to play.

Next up for the women is a trip to Lexington, Ky., on Friday, Feb. 24, when the Beavers will tee it up against #2 nationally-ranked Translvania, a squad that stands 25-0 with a nearly 30 PPG victory margin. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. in the Beck Center with Hanover and Mount St. Joseph to follow.

-BEAVERS-