By the Continental Athletic Conference

College of the Ozarks (Missouri) senior Kayley Frank and Head Coach Becky Mullis headline the Continental Athletic Conference women’s basketball all-conference selections for the 2023-24 season.

Frank garnered the Player of the Year award, while Mullis received Coach of the Year honors after helping guide the Bobcats to a CAC tournament championship.

Northern New Mexico junior Miranda Salazar earned the Defensive Player of the Year award and Florida National University sophomore Jullie Ruiz Paneto was named Newcomer of the Year.

Frank led College of the Ozarks by averaging 18.5 points per game after making 197 field goals in 31 games this winter. She also averaged 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest, while adding 44 steals.

Salazar recorded 72 steals and grabbed 5.7 rebounds in 23 games for the Eagles this season. She averaged 10 points per outing and made 70 of 87 free throw attempts (80.5%).

Ruiz Paneto averaged 22.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.1 steals per outing for the Conquistadors. She recorded 71 steals and shot 50% from the floor while starting 13 games.

Mullis led the Bobcats to a 25-6 record that featured a 10-1 mark against CAC opponents. The team won the semifinal and championship games of postseason play by an average of 15.5 points per contest.

College of the Ozarks and Florida National are representing the CAC in the First & Second Round of the NAIA national tournament. The Bobcats are the No. 15 seed in the Duer Quadrant, playing No. 2 Clarke University (Iowa) in Dubuque, Iowa, on Friday, March 15. FNU is the No. 16 seed in the Naismith Quadrant and will play at No. 1 Marian University (Indiana) in Indianapolis on Friday.

2023-24 Continental Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams

Player of the Year: Kayley Frank, College of the Ozarks

Defensive Player of the Year: Miranda Salazar, Northern New Mexico College

Newcomer Player of the Year: Jullie Ruiz Paneto, Florida National University

Coach of the Year: Becky Mullis, College of the Ozarks

First Team

Kayley Frank, College of the Ozarks

Logan Jones, College of the Ozarks

Susanna Moran, College of the Ozarks

Janelisse Marty Marrero, Florida National University

Jullie Ruiz Paneto, Florida National University

Ethena Silva, Northern New Mexico College

Second Team

Celebria Peacock, Arkansas Baptist College

Ansley Dawson, Crowley’s Ridge College

Kaylee Llanos, Florida National University

Mahpiya Irving, Haskell Indian Nations University

Miranda Salazar, Northern New Mexico College

Sarah Shamdeen, Washington Adventist University

Honorable Mention

Jessica Nerestant, Arkansas Baptist College

Travia Woodruff, Crowley’s Ridge College

Adalis Arroyo, Florida National University

Marilyn Goodman, Haskell Indian Nations University

Miracle Spotted Bear, Haskell Indian Nations University

Hallia Carl, Voorhees University

Kelly Luck, Washington Adventist University

Shelby Ricks, Washington Adventist University

Champions of Character

Ah’Jaia Kenner, Arkansas Baptist College

Kayley Frank, College of the Ozarks

Hunter Gibson, Crowley’s Ridge College

Jaycee Omeir, Florida National University

Siona Astorga, Haskell Indian Nations University

Maesyn Lopez, Northern New Mexico College

Keyanah Felder, Voorhees University

Deryanis Colon-Velez, Washington Adventist University


Bobcat guard, Andrew Dalton, received CAC Honorable Mention honors on the men's side of the conferecne.